Scripture: Luke 23:23-24 (ESV)
Stand Up
"But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that He should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted."
After ceasing Jesus from the garden, the religious leaders took Him to Pilate for only one reason. He was the only one allowed to grant the "death penalty". But Pilate saw right through the lies and didn't find and fault in Jesus, and even tried to release Him. But the crowd was urgent, demanding death in thunderous roars. Pilate was not a believer, but he was fighting a battle between two voices; the inner voice, telling him the right thing to do, and the voice of the crowd, demanding so heavily. "And their voices prevailed".
Pilate faced the same battle that all of us have to face; Do I Stand Up for the truth, or Stand Aside to appease the crowd? In my life, as a Christian, there are times when some non-believing friends of mine will "crucify Jesus" with their words and call Christians not so nice names for believing in the Bible. My first tendency is to shy away to avoid controversy, but Jesus says in Matthew 10:32, "Stand up for God, and I'll stand up for you in Heaven" (paraphrased). when I choose to stand up for God, maybe I won't be the popular vote, but at least I can know I didn't compromise my morals, and my non-believing friends may respect me more for it. But the question still remains, "Will I stand up?"
"Lord Jesus, Help me to stand up for You in the tough situations. and not stand aside to appease the crowd. I know You will be glad to stand for me in Heaven. So give me courage to say, "No" to the demands of the crowd and the world. Your name be forever praised. Amen."
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