Another full day. Even on break, it seems like there is a lot to do. May I be attentive to Your voice as we come together tonight, Father. Amen.
Luke 23:1-5 (<<click here to read the passage)
One of the biggest struggles both now and in past millennia is keeping to the entirety of truth in God’s Word. It is easy to pick and choose, to pull out what shores up our own desires in such a way to make truths and half-truths equally palatable – twisting the truth to have it say what we want it to say!
We can “make” the Bible say just about anything we want it to.
For several years I purposely made a point of reading and listening to God’s Word from beginning to end, i.e., from Genesis to Revelation. I found it greatly beneficial in that time and time again I saw the multitude of links and intertwining connections on so many fronts. One great example is the many Old Testament passages that point to Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection.
Many are guilty of pulling portions of Scripture out of context to suit their needs and devices. That is one great reason why Paul exhorts us to,
“…test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good. Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].” 1 Thessalonians 5: 21-22 AMP
God allowed the actions of the entire council to fulfill His great plan of salvation for us all. They picked and chose and twisted and bent the truth to accomplish their ultimate goal of ridding themselves of Jesus once and for all…or so they thought.
They had been around Jesus enough that they had no reason for not knowing what was what. They should have known the truth but they, instead, chose to cover their eyes and plug their ears so their hearts would not receive the impact of God’s true Word. They picked up just enough to twist for their own depraved ideas and goals.
It’s amazing, isn’t it? The people who should have been the first in line to spread God’s truth and the freedom it would bring instead avoided it with every fiber of their being! They themselves remained enslaved and in turn, refused to allow anyone else to find the readily offered freedom only God Himself could give.
The Roman governor, Pilate, didn’t get where he was by being stupid. He saw through their veneer of dedication to protect the Roman government from being undermined. No one wanted them around. If they thought they could have gotten away with it, they would have risen up and thrown Rome out with a swift kick and a “good riddance” but…they lacked the strength and power to do so.
So, Pilate’s response to their accusations against this poor powerless “teacher” was to honestly proclaim His innocence. “I find nothing wrong with this man!”
But this was the way God intended events to take place and the religious powers-that-be would not be denied. Jesus time had come…and He willingly placed Himself directly in line with God’s holy will.
Dec 29th, 2020, Tues, 7:14 pm
