What do we seek? Popularity or righteousness?

Luke 6:22-23 NKJV

Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Mans sake.    Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!  For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the

 prophets.'

There is an issue with the heart that needs to be addressed. Do we seek to be popular

 or do we seek to do the right thing. Do we seek to live for God and his ways, do what is

 right in his eyes?

Our hearts cry out to be liked, to be loved, to be accepted. This means that flattery, being part of the "in-crowd" and the praises of people are potentially dangerous. If we seek the praises of people then to choose righteousness, to choose God's will becomes harder. Our hearts will be divided. A heart devoted to the will of God will not be concerned about how others' may view us or how liked we are.

These are needs that need to be satisfied in Christ rather than sought after in people.

Doing God's will and being popular all of the time is mutually exclusive. We cannot seek both. We must resolve this issue and be prepared to be out of the limelight, and even unpopular should it glorify God and advance his purposes greater.

The fuller we are of the unconditional, never-ending love of God the more our hearts are satisfied and the less we look to others to satisfy it.

And the only way to do this is by spending time in His presence, seeking His face,

listening to His still small voice.