The applause that we seek most

“If you get a chance today, I’d love it if you would read the passage in the book I just read this morning.”

The next morning, I pull out my husband’s most recent cherished commentary, and I begin to read a familiar passage in Mark that has been marked with a ribbon, followed by the thoughts of J.C. Ryle.

I soon find myself nodding, then stirred, then ready to weep with longing.

“The men who are willing to be last of all, and servants of all, for Christ’s sake, are always few. Yet these are the men who do good, break down prejudices, convince infidels that Christianity is a reality, and shake the world.” - J.C. Ryle

We have had many conversations about this very thing because we’ve both begun to notice a shift that is happening. Something that is a natural consequence of a culture that makes it quite easy to become the proud owner of a platform and an audience that is eager to applaud - even hit the share button.

You see, the culture seems to have stirred the young people to believe that an edgy perspective is of great significance. Perhaps because that’s the steady diet that we all are fed every time we pick up our phones.

We scroll along and read thoughts that are meant to hook, pull, and then convince. Clever wording, new, unheard perspectives, shocking discoveries.

We love to entertain arguments on trending topics of church culture and deep, theological topics because it gives us a sense of security in our Christian walk. Naturally, if we have the answers, we must be doing something right? We must have attained a level of holiness and respect.

We find a sense of identity in it. We are convinced it is the very essence of the Christian life.

But in our desire to be right, perhaps we have become adrift from some of the greatest foundational aspects of walking with Jesus.

Those who prized well-made arguments and were married to tradition were not held up as examples in scripture, but instead were those who failed to recognise the face of God in their midst and rather hung him on the cross.

Those who believed that they had reached a superior position to those of their elders and were closed to rebuke are held up in scripture as the example of the fool’s road to destruction.

This is heavy to say, but true nonetheless, and I must head it often.

Often I feel the stirring in my own heart, and long to beg the question of others, “But do you love Jesus, my friend? Does your heart long for Him above everything else?”

I wonder the same about myself? Am I driven more by my desire to show others my knowledge and my good opinions, or am I driven by a deep ache and driving desire to live in the presence of the God of the universe and bring joy to the heart of my Master?

I give you this quote:

“The world’s idea of greatness is to rule, but Christian greatness consists in serving. The world’s ambition is to receive honour and attention, but the desire of the Christian should be to give rather than receive, and to attend on others rather than be attended on himself. In short, the man who lays himself out most to serve his fellow men, and to be useful in his day and generation, is the greatest man in the eyes of Christ.” - J.C. Ryle

Where are the men and women of this generation who care nothing for parading their arguments and opinions and are lost in a life of serving the least of these? The first will gain applause from an audience, the second will gain the applause of Heaven and Hosts.

Which do we prize more? Our time will tell.

Oh, to be captivated by our Maker more than being seen as worthy of applause by this world.

Oh, to care more about the least of these, the lost, the broken - to let our hearts bleed and break and be spent in prayer for them, rather than hoping to gain the attention of the masses and the respect of our peers.

Those who heaven celebrates are rarely seen as notable in this world.

Zach and I are often in conversation about this. We are making plans.

We want this to be evident in our own hearts. We want to open our door to the young people who have the same ache.

If that is you and you are within our area, reach out - we want to gather and grow together.