April 19 Daily Devotional

Seeking Man's Approval or God's?

the Rev. David Freeman

"With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment."
"I Cor. 4:3.

Devotional

Here is an expression of a noble independence. Let no one mistake it for a fanatical and sordid aloofness. Rather it is the true believer in Christ appealing from the judgment of man to the judgment of God. It is the high resolve to do right, to do always right, and to do it without concern as to the judgment of men.

Such a temper every Christian should have if he would be holy and happy. Do we wish to know the cause for much of our misery and lack of joy in God? Men! Men! We do in order to be seen of men; we think as we know men would have us think; we dread what our fellow-creatures frown upon. And often the unconverted person would own the Lord Jesus Christ if it could be kept from the knowledge of men. No peace and calm can come to those who live in the very populous countries of Cowardice and Indecision.

He cannot walk in peace and calm who wavers on the brink of an obligation and whose principles are, unfixed and conflicting. That man is unstable and restless who judges that to be right today which he condemned yesterday. He is as the mariner in a fog,—uncertain of his way and in distress. Instability is never the fruit of the mind that is stayed on God. The minds that look ever to God are kept in perfect peace.

Joy in God is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in the heart. This cannot come where other evidences of His working are wanting. Surely it is He who inclines the will to keep all God's holy commandments. A sure mark of discipleship is the possession of a determined purpose to perform all known duty. "I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments."

(to be continued)

"Lift Up Your Heart" is a series of devotionals by the late Rev. David Freeman, an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for most of his life. These devotionals, in fact, are part of the early history of our denomination. The first of them was published in The Presbyterian Guardian in 1935; the denomination now known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially formed in 1936. We believe that "the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:25). Thus it is no surprise that meditations based on that Word have continued relevance today. Dr. Freeman's devotionals are proof of that fact.

David Freeman was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1928; Th.M. , 1930) and of Dropsie Univiersity (Ph.D., 1951). He served as pastor at Grace (later New Covenant) Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1936-1946), Knox Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1949-1962), and Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Fall River, MA (1962-1967). He authored many articles and (along with his son, David H. Freeman) is the author of the book A Philosophical Study of Religion, which appeared in 1964. He went to be with the Lord in 1984.

There is one change from the way the daily devotional was handled in the past with John Skilton's Think On These Things: New devotionals for the new series appear on weekdays only (Monday through Saturday. It is suggested that you use your pastor's sermon text(s) as the basis for your mediations on the Lord's Day.

We trust that you will find these devotionals, once again made available seventy years after they first appeared, to be a personal help in your own Christian walk today!