My scripture journal entry: And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” (Mark 15:12-14 ESV) Isnt it interesting how righteousness stirs up anger and resentment? People who want to keep doing what they are doing, or want to justify their choices as being right and normal, will look at the righteous as a living accusation against them, and as an obstacle to being able to live their lives in the way they see fit. Jesus represented a walk with God that brought condemnation to the legalistic, judgmental attitude of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Even if he had never tripped them up or spoke against the burdens they placed on the lives of men they would have hated him because he represented what they could never be and never have. He was a living, breathing, walking picture of what a true relationship with God should be, and he set an example for spiritual leaders that was an offense to these men. They wanted to continue in their comfortable legalism and Jesus was to them what the flashing lights and sirens of a police car are to us, a reminder that we are not doing what we should be doing. As I consider this passage I cant help but think about the way our society seems to be turning away from God and slipping into apostasy. Christians who stand for righteousness and Biblical principles are being ridiculed and mocked in movies and television. The government is striving to push righteousness out of the public eye and forced into closed gatherings. What is wrong is being exalted as being amazingly perfect and what is right is being scorned and declared to be hypocritical and judgmental. The same power that carried Jesus to the cross is alive and well and is still trying to overcome the will of God and His desire to restore humanity to that perfect relationship with Him that we were designed to walk in. We are only beginning to acquire a small taste of what our brothers and sisters in other places have endured for years. The question is, will we see things get worse, or will we turn our hearts back to God? The answer may lie in the response of Christians and our willingness to stand for love in the face of hatred, and to live in righteousness in the midst of a society that loves sin. Will we stand, or will we quietly withdraw to places of safety? Only time will tell if we leave a marker that allows our children and grandchildren to ask about the amazing thing God did, or if they ask what is the tombstone all about. In the words of Joshua, as for me and my house we, we will serve The Lord.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 14:51:36 +0000
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