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An Audience of One

Recently we listened to John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. I think this was the 4th or 5th time I heard the unabridged version over the last 15 years. It is a classic and full of wisdom for any Christ follower on their journey in this life. Hard to believe it was published 337 years ago and written by a man with little or no formal biblical training.

One of the many individuals Christian, the main character of the book, met along his journey was Pliable. As the name implies, Pliable changed his mind or position on matters dependent upon whom he was with. Because Pliable’s foundational beliefs were built on the shifting sands of mans opinion, when life got tough and required hard decisions, he faltered and fell by the wayside and would return to his old ways.

Each day we must make hard choices about how we will walk and live in this world. Will we conform to it’s ways or stay on the narrow path the Lord has prepared for us. I’m remind of what Joshua said to the Israelites right before he died, Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Ask yourself today, whom do I choose to serve, God or man? For me and my house, we choose the Lord.

Blessings

An Audience of One
by Os Hillman

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

What audience do you play to? Each day you are seen by many who will make a judgment about the way you handle yourself among different audiences. Politicians have learned to play to their audiences, customizing messages for the needs of their particular groups. Musicians have learned to play to their audiences. Pastors play to their congregations each Sunday morning. Workplace believers play to the audiences who will buy their product.

Christ has called us to play to one audience – the audience of Himself. When you seek to please any other audience in your life, you become susceptible to situational ethics and motivations based on the need for the moment. Your audience becomes a pawn in your hands because you know what they want. Is that wrong? Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t.

Pure obedience to pleasing God in our lives will often meet the needs of those around us. It is God’s will that you and I love our spouses, provide good services to our customers, and look to the interests of others before ourselves. This will result in meeting many needs of the audiences in our lives.

However, there are other times when our audiences are asking for something contrary to God’s will. Politicians are often forced to appease their audiences, even though it may go against God’s laws. When we are asked to go with the flow, we discover which audience is most important in our lives. Is it the audience of One, or the audience of many?

Today, be aware of which audience you are playing to. Ask yourself why you are taking a particular action. Is it to please the audience of One? Or is it to please the audience of others who might negatively impact you should you not play to their tune?

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