Devotional from Jan Ross

"And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying,
Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."  (Matthew 21:9)


TODAY'S THOUGHT

People haven't changed a bit!  This memorable day in the life of Christ . .
. the crowds were hailing Him as King . . . not many days later, they were
crying, "Crucify Him!"

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what YOU would have done under the same circumstances?  You've witnessed miracles on one hand . . . you've heard the angry accusations on the other hand!  You've sat under his teaching . . . you've also heard him called a heretic.  You've witnessed
changed lives . . . you've seen the reactions of the religious leaders!

There weren't many who chose to "go against the flow" as most followed the crowds . . . they followed in hailing Him as King . . . they followed in
crying, "Crucify Him!"

The time may come in the not too distant future where we will be faced with similar decisions.  Will we follow the crowd or will we stay true to the
King of kings and Lord of lords?  Will we stand for what we know is truth,
or will we find ourselves getting lost in the crowds so as not to stand out?
Will we be like Peter and deny that we ever knew Him, or will we stand with the few who weren't afraid to admit that they followed Him?

These are hard questions that we must be prepared to answer.  If you don't know what you would do, NOW is the time to make up your mind.  Now is NOT the time to "ride the fence" . . . we  must be like Paul when he said, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day."  (2 Timothy 1:12)


TODAY'S PRAYER

Father, I don't want to be like everyone else . . . I don't want to follow
along with the crowd to avoid being singled out because of my faith!  Lord, I want to stand up for You . . . whether it's in front of my co-workers, my family, my friends, my neighbors, the government . . . whomever!  Lord, I love you and I'm committed to our relationship, by Your grace, covered with Your blood, because of Your mercy!  Give me strength to stand, O Lord, in the face of all creation and cry, "Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!"  Amen!


Have a blessed day!