Dear Ones,
A blessed Good Friday to you! May we each celebrate this Holy day in some special way. I just read that in Bermuda they fly kites to symbolize Jesus Ascension, in London they enact the Passion Play in Trafalgar Square, in Israel they walk the same path Jesus did to Calvary etc. So many ways to remember. We will be going to a Good Friday communion service at our church tonight.
This morning I studied and cleaned the apt. and this afternoon we are invited to friends for coffee and fellowship.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Do we give in when pressured by others and fail to do what we know is right? I was reading about Pilate who wanted to let Jesus go free, but he listened to the crowd instead and caved into their demands. It’s not easy to stand up for truth when the majority may be against it, and it takes courage. Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea and had power to release Jesus but he was more concerned about his political future and the possibility of being removed if there was unrest. So he gave in to the pressure and condemned an innocent man of whom had done nothing wrong. I wonder how he slept that night? Pilot rinsed his hands before the angry crowd trying to show he was not responsible, but if he had not weakened, he could have made a difference. What about us? How quickly do we give in to the pressures in our world and settle for something comfortable rather than truthful? Afterwards we have regrets but at the time we sadly weakened. We see this happening today as adults can get caught up in the roar of the crowd and do things they would never do on their own or want their children to see. But let us remember who we are in the Lord. He has promised us grace and courage when we are willing to stand up for what is true, right and good, even though it may be hard and costly for us. Today more than ever we need a holy boldness. Let us not buckle under and cave in to peer pressure but listen to the voice of Him who is truth. Peter and John were arrested for preaching and ordered not to teach about Jesus. But they responded by saying that they could not keep from speaking about Jesus. When they gathered again with fellow believers, they prayed for more boldness to speak the word and heal in Jesus name. Notice they didn’t ask to be removed from the problem but do deal in boldness about the problem. The Lord will give us courage and boldness and has promised not to abandon us. As it says in Heb.13:6 (NRSV), “So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’” Let us go in the strength of the Lord and stand in boldness.
Challenge for today: When in compromising situations, pray for courage to boldly stand.
Blessings on this Holy Day. Prayers and love, Judy
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