Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. (42-43)
Sadly, even when people know what is right, they still choose what is wrong because their priorities are backward. After the resurrection of Lazarus, many believed in Jesus and knew He was the son of God. Yet, they cared more about pleasing man and temporary pleasure than glorifying God. The same could be said of society today. Most are more concerned with public image than with how God sees them. Their lives are driven by how others view them, and their focus is more on the moment than on the weight of eternity. People spend hours posting things for likes on social media because they desire the fleeting recognition of a faceless crowd; a recognition that is fickle and transient at best. What If we invested that amount of time and energy in how we might glorify a personal, living God by our faith and obedience? Do you care more about what people think or what God thinks? How you answer that question makes all the difference in the world.
