April 20 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

(continued)

There is in our imperfect state an inward conflict between the law of our members and the law of our minds, yet in the new creature begotten again unto newness of life by the Holy Spirit of God there is a mind, a settled purpose, to live in holy obedience to God's commands. Where the Holy Spirit is, there is a striving to do good even when evil is present.

God's will is known by the study of God's Word. There He witnesses to us of His mind and purpose. "The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." What matters to the man whose mind is made up to surrender unreservedly to God? Happy is he to whom has been given a heart to perform what his righteous Lord requires. He is strong in the Lord and of good courage. He does not waver in his obedience when some great and holy act of high decision is proposed. The whispers of worldly professors, which might cause him to delay, are not welcome. His high resolve in God bears him triumphantly over mere human opinion. What matters it to him whether man approves or disapproves? It is not human approval which he seeks, but the keeping of the commandments of God. He will advance to the performance, though all the world should rebuke.

The voice of an approving conscience enlightened by God's Holy Word is a great prize. It is a balm for many a wound caused -by human opposition. Let only our purpose to risk all for the sake of what is right rise to its proper height, and it will be a delight to do it. "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments." Such delight will overcome all voices that are raised by men.

O Christian, do you wish to know if you are growing in grace? When you begin to grow in your resolution to do all that God commands and when you begin to prefer the keeping of God's statutes to honor, to pleasure, and to life, then you are stepping heavenward.

"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!