Highly Exalted... in Whose Eyes?

Bible Readings... Luke 16
Highlighted Verse... Luke 16:15 - He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.
Thoughts... How often do I focus on what others think instead of focusing on what God thinks... the things that please God... the things that grieve God. Earlier tonight, a young man named Adam with a real heart for God spoke at our church about a mission trip he took to Taiwan earlier this year. He spoke of the persecuted church in China and the faith and determination of the Chinese Christians. The stories he told speak of a people that uphold the values that are important to God.
How it impressed me... Contrasting the lives of the believers and martyrs in China with what we see in America in the midst of the national conventions of both the Democrats and Republicans, these words ring especially true. We see both parties justifying themselves and their nominees in the eyes of men with scant attention paid to the Creator of the Universe.
My response to God... Father God, help me to grieve over the things that grieve you and rejoice in the things that please you. Help me to set aside the preferences of men to become holy -- set apart -- for you. Give our nation a leader who will set aside personal and party agendas and instead seek to bring us back to you.