Devotions from Judy’s heart
Do we hide our faith from those whom we may be unsure of their relationship to the Lord or do we come out and take a stand for Him? Jesus went through so much, even death on the cross, to identify with us and bring us into close relationship with Him. Each of us must decide what we will do in response to Jesus. Pilate asked the angry crowd in Matt. 27:22 (NRSV), “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah.” They wanted Him crucified and Pilate gave into their demands, thinking more of maintaining the peace rather than risking a riot, and ultimately his position.  But in a sense, we are all asked that question in our hearts? What will we do with the One who gave everything for us? Our answer to that affects not only our life here on earth but also our eternal destiny. If we come to accept Him as our Lord, then whether we live or die, we are together with Him forever. When we truly believe in Him then it affects how we live and influences all of our relationships. This will be especially evident in our family relationships. Do we quickly ask forgiveness when we are irritable and maybe even unreasonable with our mates? Do we share our faith with our children and encourage them to follow the Lord?  It is also good to ask ourselves if our fellow workers would know by what we say and how we live, that we are followers of Christ. In the days ahead, and even now, it is becoming more costly to identify with Him; some have lost their businesses, their positions, and some even their lives. Are we willing to come out of hiding and let others know where we stand? I read today how Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who first came to Jesus by night, both risked their positions as members of the Jewish council to take away Jesus body and give Him a burial. The women also came out of hiding the next day to bring spices and perfumes for Jesus body but ended up being the first ones to announce His resurrection. Let us also be witnesses and commit ourselves to serving Him and sharing Him with others. The same power that brought Jesus back from the dead is in us today and let us be bole in proclaiming Him no matter what the cost.
Challenge for today: Pray daily for the Holy Spirit to fill you and empower you to be a bold witness for Him.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy