GODIENCE

It was a word I’d never heard before. I was listening to a preacher speaking before a Youth Congress in Baltimore a number of months ago. He had been speaking about the night Herodias’s daughter, Salome, had danced before King Herod and others at a banquet. If one reads the record carefully, it is quite plausible that John the Baptist probably would not have been in prison except for Herod’s fear of Herodias. Herod enjoyed listening to John, and considered him to be a good (even holy) man. Herod protected John, in a sense, and perhaps wanted to release him. But his fear of Herodias was too great.

During the funeral service for President Gerald Ford, about the same time last year, I heard Tom Brokaw, the former NBC news anchor, say of Ford, “He always tried to do the right thing. He didn’t play to the gallery.” Ford wasn’t used to doing what was expedient. The English language has many euphemisms for choosing to do the wrong thing even when we know what is right. “Going with the flow”, ‘Not sticking one’s neck out”, “Going along with the crowd,” “Giving in to peer pressure.” “Playing to the gallery.” “Afraid to take a stand.”

Thinking to impress his guests, Herod promised the tantalizing dancer that she could have whatever she wished, up to half of his kingdom. He never counted on Herodias, and soon found himself in a very tight spot because of his self-centeredness. We all know what happened. We read in Mark 6:26, “And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.” NASB

I’ve had to take a closer look at how I choose my actions. When faced with taking a stand for right, am I willing to do what is right, or do I find it easier to play to the gallery? Do I base my actions on how I think others will respond, afraid to lose face to them, or do I choose

to perform for the audience of one, my Heavenly Father? He may be the only one in the audience, but His approval outshines everything else.

GODIENCE.

May your day tomorrow be the first of a long run of solo performances on His stage.

Dr. G