Monday, September 12, 2022

September 12, 2022

John 11: 48 (NIV)
“If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
What is so important to us in living in this world is often of little or no importance to God.*
The chief priests and the Pharisees used bizarre logic when they met to discuss the problems Jesus was causing them. They didn’t deny that he was performing miraculous signs, they just didn’t want everyone to believe in him. Their privileges and prestige were at risk if the Romans decided to step in. They were so concerned about their place in society that they were blinded to the significance of Jesus’ miracles. They only knew that he had to be stopped before their way of life was ruined.

Accepting Jesus as Lord can upset your status quo, too. If you have a job that requires you to be unethical in order to get ahead; if you have friends whose lifestyles aren’t compatible with a Christian’s walk; or if your family can’t believe you are serious about this religious stuff – your life is going to change. Jesus didn’t promise that the life of a Christian would be easy but he made lots of other promises (see 200+ Promises That Jesus Made for This Life and for the Life to Come, compiled by Galen Currah, from The Greatest Life Ever Lived, by Cheny and Ellisen, 1999, edited by Meltebeke and Meltebeke). In John 16: 33, Jesus offers us a good news/bad news promise: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33) It will be worth it all to be a part of that revolution! Don’t be like the Pharisees and hold on to an old life of temporary fame and fortune and miss out on eternal fulfillment.
He takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life change.*

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