#but the pharisees have no choice but to go to pilate. they have no real power. because like i said. they are puppet rulers | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

antialiasis · 4 years

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The Character Assassination of Pilate, or: why the Swedish JCS misses the point

So we rewatched the 2014 Swedish JCS (this wasn’t even me, Shadey wanted to, I swear), and I spent most of it complaining, and it also reminded me exactly why I’d felt Pilate was totally unsympathetic in it... which as it turns out was largely the translation! Again! So let me talk some more about the Swedish translation and this Swedish production generally.

One of the many cool things about Jesus Christ Superstar is that it makes a point of making all the major figures involved pretty sympathetic. Jesus is starkly a human being, distressed at how things are developing. Judas is sympathetic and has valid concerns, betraying Jesus because he thinks it’s the right thing to do, not for the money. The pharisees are assholes (especially Annas), but they also basically have reasonable concerns about the Romans getting fed up with the Jewish populace. Pilate condemns Jesus to death, but he doesn’t want to at all, and is instead pushed into it by an angry mob and a Jesus who refuses to defend himself or let Pilate help him. Even Herod is comic relief but he totally wants to free Jesus if he’ll just show he’s the real deal (which Jesus of course refuses to do, because he believes this has to happen).

So the translation choices made in the Swedish translation of “Trial Before Pilate” are... extremely disappointing. I already mentioned how Jesus’s “There may be a kingdom for me somewhere, if I only knew” is rendered as “Where you do my father’s will, that is my kingdom”, which completely misses the point of that line. But let’s take another look at Pilate himself and how his lines are translated.

Most of them are just your average translation, phrasing things differently but saying basically the same things. But then things start to go off the rails. Here are the major differences, backtranslation from Swedish courtesy of the YouTube fansub by fish -d:

Original English lyrics by Tim Rice:

He’s just misguided

Thinks he’s important

But to keep you vultures happy, I shall flog him

Swedish translation by Ola Salo:

Still, he is lost

and a little pompous

But maybe we can take it out of him with the whip?

The point of these lines becomes completely different. English Pilate feels nothing but contempt for the crowing crowd, these vultures, who scream for the execution of an innocent man, but he reluctantly decides to flog him anyway, in the hope that that’ll be enough to appease the crowd without actually sentencing Jesus to death. (The crowd is basically threatening to riot if he doesn’t crucify him, and it’s Pilate’s job to keep the peace.)

Meanwhile, Swedish Pilate... just thinks sure, they have a point that he’s pompous, maybe they can take Jesus down a peg by whipping him. The nuance of why he decides to flog him is just gone. He seems to agree that Jesus deserves this.

Then, after “39 Lashes”, once Jesus has said everything is fixed and Pilate can’t change anything:

Original English lyrics by Tim Rice:

You’re a fool, Jesus Christ!

How can I help you?

Swedish translation by Ola Salo:

You are sick, Jesus Christ!

Beyond all kinds of help!

Originally, Pilate is desperate. He wants to help, but Jesus won’t let him, which he thinks makes him a fool.

Swedish Pilate, instead, seems repulsed, and that’s how the actor plays it. He calls him sick and beyond help instead. This isn’t the worst of the changes, but it’s still a noticeable difference in tone.

And then:

Original English lyrics by Tim Rice:

Don’t let me stop your great self-destruction!

Die if you want to, you misguided martyr!

I wash my hands of your demolition!

Die if you want to, you innocent puppet!

Swedish translation by Ola Salo:

Don’t let me spoil the spectacle!

Die, if you want to, you deluded wretch!

I wash myself clean of your sick fate

Sad wretch! Prepare yourself for death!

This is night and day! Tim Rice’s Pilate recognizes Jesus is an innocent bent on being a martyr, and throws his hands up: if Jesus wants to get himself killed, so be it. His final words to Jesus are regretfully calling him an innocent puppet.

Meanwhile, Swedish Pilate... is really contemptuous of Jesus. He insults him and calls this a “spectacle”. There’s no recognition that Jesus clearly believes he’s a martyr for a cause; instead Pilate just seems to think Jesus is some kind of twisted exhibitionist masochist who wants to make a spectacle of himself. The final line is this spiteful, vengeful “Prepare to die!”

The overall effect of these edits is that Swedish Pilate seems to just come across as an unsympathetic asshole. He sort of vaguely says he wants to help Jesus, but then just drops him like some sort of gross unpleasant insect. There is no real sense that he’s conflicted about this and thinks Jesus’s fate is tragic.

Originally, Pilate is contemptuous and dismissive in “Pilate and Christ”, but his tone changes in “Trial Before Pilate”, when he’s seriously being petitioned to sentence this poor fool to death. He argues fiercely that Jesus hasn’t done anything wrong, tries to talk to him again and again, makes no secret of how much he abhors the crowd’s pointless bloodthirst. He does think Jesus is a misguided fool, but he feels obvious sympathy for him and regret for his ultimate fate.

Swedish Pilate pretty much just seems to remain contemptuous all the way through. If he has a glimmer of sympathy for Jesus at some point in there, it’s minor and vague and seems decidedly gone by the end. He’s contemptuous of the crowd too, but there’s nothing likeable or sympathetic about this Pilate. He’s just the guy who sentences Jesus to death. Which is wildly missing the point!

In general, I feel that this production is noticeably unnuanced. The pharisees, Pilate and Herod all just feel distinctly like villains here, played as deeply unpleasant with all signifiers thereof. Annas is a real bastard in the original, but here they play him up into this incredibly creepy cackling vampire pimp reveling in violence and hookers. There are just good guys and bad guys here, and it feels like they actively worked to hammer all nuance and sympathy out of the ‘bad guys’.

As for Jesus... It just feels like this production is mostly trying to portray him as a hedonistic rock star sort of figure, because haha Jesus Christ Superstar I guess. So accordingly, the apostles are basically his groupies, and he loves flirting with them and appearing before his adoring fanbase and being wheeled around a shopping cart and so on - but it doesn’t feel like he actually cares about anything. It doesn’t feel like Ola Salo has any real idea what to do with Jesus’s actual character arc, with the lashing out and the worries and the stress he’s under, or any kind of clear or consistent idea who he is as a person or why he acts the way he does. The serious Jesus scenes in the first half just by and large feel super flat and unconvincing or at best like he’s being kind of a drama queen fishing for sympathy; in “Gethsemane” he finally seems properly in sync with what Jesus is supposed to be feeling, and it’s different but okay as I mentioned before, but then afterwards he’s back to just... kind of... not acting much? He’s just there and doesn’t seem like he cares terribly much what’s happening or is very convinced of anything he’s saying and I just can’t make myself feel for him at all.

Meanwhile, Judas is definitely my favorite part of the Swedish production; he’s the one character who actually gets to have some kind of complexity and dimension, his actor does a great job with his conflictedness and torment, and I actually like how he’s translated - even when his lines are changed pretty significantly they still feel true to Judas’s character. (Why is it so dark? and God, I’m freezing! in “Judas’s Death” particularly get me.) But even then it feels like the director still wanted to villainize him. Ultimately this production mostly just portrays him as Jesus’s jealous, vengeful ex. He repeatedly violates Jesus’s boundaries, and this “Superstar” does the taunting thing - even having Judas reach out for Jesus, and Jesus reach back, only for Judas to snatch his hand away just before they touch, chuckling. And his concerns about politics and ideals are there in the lyrics, and still sound really reasonable and he performs it like they’re genuine, but ultimately they just don’t come off nearly as strongly in the staging as his obvious jealousy of Mary and attraction to Jesus, which again just kind of flattens the nuances of his character and makes that seem like his main motivation.

All in all I just don’t feel like the people behind this production thought very hard about what actually makes JCS as scripted interesting, which is a huge shame. Wanting Jesus and Judas to make out is all well and good, but there needs to be more to it than that.

#jesus christ superstar #translation #ramble #negative #character analysis

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thedoublejayzz · 5 years

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Paraphrasing of John (John 18:1-19:42)

After Jesus finished praying he went with the disciples into an garden. Judas knew Jesus would be there and planned to backstab Him there. He brought a group of soldiers officials and Pharisees who were all carrying weapons. Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him and He still asked them Who are you here for? They all exclaimed Jesus! When Jesus admitted that it was Him they stepped back. Jesus asked again, Who are you looking for? They said Jesus Jesus said Well I already told you that I’m Jesus so if you’re here for me then take me but leave my men alone He told the men this, so they would not take His disciples God gave Him. Simon Peter was sad they were taking him and he became angry and pulled out his pocket knife and slices the ear of the conference leaders butler. Jesus told Peter What are you’re doing? Put that thing away before you strike someone else. Do you think I shouldn’t deal with what God is setting up for me The group of soldiers, pastors, and Pharisees arrested Jesus, tied his hands together, and took Him to Annas. Annas was the father of Caiaphas by law. Caiaphas was the high-priest of the year and told the Jews that it was better if one man died for the people instead of a lot. Two disciples followed Jesus. One of them was Simon Peter. The other disciple was friends with the high priests, so he got to go in the courtyard while the Simon Peter waited outside. The other disciple decided that it was messed up to leave Simon Peter in the cold, so he got the waitress to let Simon Peter in through a different door. A servant asked Simon Peter while walking together into the courtyard, “Please tell me that you’re not one of that crazy Jesus followers are you? Nope Peter said. Peter got cold, so he went to warm himself by the fire with the officials. While Peter was minding his own business, the officials asked him, Are you a disciple too? Nope, I’m not about that life.Peter said. The cousin of the priests’ servant (whose ear Peter cut off) tried to get smart and asked Peter, i thought I saw with you with Jesus in the garden? Peter dissed that question at the same exact time a rooster crowed. The High priests and the soldiers took Jesus to Pilate’s palace. They didn’t want to step into the palace because they wanted to eat Passover and they were hungry. Pilate came to talk to them outside. What are you guys accusing Jesus for? They all looked at each other and told Pilate, Well, we wouldn’t bring an innocent man to you so don’t worry about it. Pilate didn’t think there was a real reason they were handing Jesus over. Then take him and judge him yourself All the priests there and soldier said,We don’t have that kind of power to execute anyone. That’s why we came to you. Pilate took Jesus in the palace with him to have a private conversation with. Pilate talk to you since if he thought he was the king of the Jews Jesus responded did you come up with this on your own or was it something that you heard about me? Pilot told him I don’t wonder stand what are your own people turning against you. Jesus responded I am not from this earth for my kingdom is not here Pilote asked him if he was a king That is what you say the reason I was born was to tell the truth to anyone willing to listen. Pilate was confused by the meaning of Truth. He went out to the Jewish Leaders and told them that there is no reason to accuse Jesus, so He would give Jesus back to them. The Leaders didn’t like that idea. They would rather have a murderer named Barabbas then to have Jesus. We don’t want him, we’ll take Barabbas!They all shouted. Pilate didn’t know what to do, so he just gave them what they wanted. He had his men severely beat Jesus. When they were done beating Jesus they gave Him a crown of sharp thorns and forced it on His head. They gave Him a pretty robe to make Him look somewhat of a King. They all slapped Him while saying King of Jews Pilate brought Jesus back out to all the Jewish leaders and the Jews. I still think this man is innocent!All the people took one look at Jesus and just said Crucify Him! Pilate told them to do it themselves because he himself found no reason to crucify Jesus. The Jewish leaders were very persistent had wanted their way in having Jesus crucified. Pilate was still not ready to crucify Jesus, so he went to ask Jesus more questions. Where are you from anyway? Why aren’t you answering me? Are you even aware that I have the authority to set you free or crucify you? Jesus answered, You only have the authority that the one above gave you. If it were not for the one above then you would have no authority over me. The people who have turned me in, is in greater sin. Pilate really didn’t want to crucify Jesus and tried to get out of it, but failed. The crowd threatened him by saying, if you do not crucify Him then you are not a friend of Caesars. Anyone who says they are king is against Caesar! Pilate had no choice, but to do things the way the Jewish leaders and the crowd wanted. Jesus was to be crucified. The soldiers made Jesus carry the cross to a place called the Skull. Once they got there they finally crucified Jesus. On both sides of Jesus were two criminals. Pilate had also had the soldiers put a name plate on Jesus’ cross. The name on the name plate was: Jesus the King of Jews. The people against Jesus saw the nameplate and got mad. They told Pilate that he could not put that on Jesus’ cross. Pilate told them to suck it up because he was not going to change what he wrote. While crucifying Jesus, the soldiers took His clothes off of Him and divided it into 4 shares one for each of them. They decided not to tear anything because they wanted to sell it. All of this happened so that prophesy would be fulfilled and true. Prophesy said that: They divided my clothes and would decide to try and sell them. Mary (Jesus’ mom), the sister of Mary, the Mary that was married to Clopas, and Mary Magdalene all stood by Jesus’ cross. Jesus saw his mom standing next to the disciple that He trusted the most. He told his mother That is your son. And He told the disciple, That is you mother. The disciple knew exactly what Jesus meant. Jesus knew that His task had been finished. He said, I’m thirsty. The soldiers soaked a sponge in vinegar water and put it against Jesus’ lips. Jesus drank a little bit of it. He said it is doneThe last thing Jesus did on the cross was bowing his head and giving his life up. The Jewish leaders didn’t want dead bodies out in the open on the Sabbath. They asked Pilate to have the soldiers break all the bodies’ legs and take them off the crosses. The soldiers didn’t break Jesus’ legs because they saw that He was already dead. Instead they pierced Jesus’ side. As soon as they pierced Him a flow of water and blood came out. A man named Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph was actually a secret disciple of Jesus but He was too scared to have anybody know. Joseph took Jesus’ body after getting approval. After taking the body Nicodemus helped Joseph carry it to the tomb. Nicodemus brought 75 pounds worth of fancy spices to cover Jesus in after they wrapped Him in nice material. Because it was Jewish preparation day, they laid Him there and left.

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blackchurchnewswire · 6 years

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LISTEN: Whyte House Family Devotions: A Prayer for the Family, the Church, the Nation and the World #362 (Friday, May 18, 2018): “Love Covers,” by Billy Graham

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[caption id="attachment_40916" align="alignleft" width="156"] Daniel Whyte III[/caption] My family and I have had morning devotions, or family altar as some people call it, every day ever since my wife, Meriqua, and I were married 30 years ago. We have prayed and read the Bible together as well as other devotional books as a family, and it is the only reason why this family has stayed together, and the only reason why God has blessed our family and used our family in ministry all of these years. We read Ephesians 5 and 6 every morning as it relates to the role of each member of the family and how that we need to put on the whole armor of God to fight against the devil who is seeking to destroy our family and all Christian families, churches, and Christians. So, now after 30 years of doing this in our home, we are opening this up to others who don't have a family to pray with, who don't have a spouse, or who are single by choice, and to encourage all families who are still intact to go back to the family altar and have devotions together every morning. In these devotions, you may hear me deal with a temptation I'm facing in my life, you may hear me rebuke my wife about not doing what she should be doing, or you may hear me get on one of my children's cases about something they're doing. Don't be shocked; this is real life. SING "DOXOLOGY" Praise God from Whom all blessings flow Praise Him, all creatures here below Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost Amen Billy Graham said, “God speaks to those who are prepared in their hearts to listen. Discern the voice from heaven above the noisy din of earth’s confusion.” ------ RECITE: THE NEW NICENE CREED We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, bled, died, and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He was seen alive by Mary Magdalene and the other women, the disciples and over 500 other brethren; He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy universal and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen. ------ EPHESIANS 6:12-13 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stephen J. Cole writes in his commentary on this passage: "Adequate preparation is a major part of victory in spiritual warfare. Proverbs 24:10 states, 'If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited.' Here, Paul tells us to take up God’s full armor so that we will be able to resist when the evil day hits, as surely it will. Then, being prepared, you will be able to stand firm. You do not need to learn any formulas or complicated steps to victory over the devil. The Bible is quite simple: James 4:7 says, 'Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.' First Peter 5:8-9 says, 'Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith.' By the way, we’re commanded to flee from sin, but to resist the devil. As Jesus showed us when He was tempted by Satan, one of the most effective ways to resist is to know and recite Scripture. And so one way to prepare yourself for battle in the evil day is to saturate your mind with God’s Word, reading it over and over and memorizing key verses to equip you for victory." ------- PRAYER ------- DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE: Psalm 141:1-4 1 Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. 2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. Regarding this passage, Matthew Henry writes: “Those that know how to value God's gracious presence, will be the more fervent in their prayers. When presented through the sacrifice and intercession of the Saviour, they will be as acceptable to God as the daily sacrifices and burnings of incense were of old. Prayer is a spiritual sacrifice, it is the offering up the soul and its best affections. Good men know the evil of tongue sins. When enemies are provoking, we are in danger of speaking unadvisedly. While we live in an evil world, and have such evil hearts, we have need to pray that we may neither be drawn nor driven to do any thing sinful.” --------- PRAYER FOR THE ESTATES 1. Family 2. Clergy (church) 3. Government 4. People (citizens) 5. The press (media) 6. New media/Online journalists PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY PRAYER FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP GOVERNMENT LEADERS 1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." President Donald Trump and his administration Vice President Mike Pence First Lady Melania Trump Second Lady Karen Pence All White House staff including: Chief of Staff John F. Kelly All leaders of federal agencies including: Federal Judicial Center Director Jeremy Fogel All territorial governors including: Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo All city mayors including: Davenport, FL, Mayor Darlene Bradley All members of Congress including: Florida Representative Vern Buchanan All law enforcement officials including: Davenport, FL, Police Chief Larry Holden All military leaders including: Defense Secretary James Mattis / Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David L. Goldfein Leaders of nations around the world including: Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou and Prime Minister Brigi Rafini The peace of Jerusalem PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE / CITIZENS PRAYER FOR THE MEDIA PRAYER FOR CURRENT EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD - For the protection of the Congo from a new ebola outbreak - For peace and calm between Israel and Gaza - For the comfort of the families and church families of ten people killed in suicide attacks on three churches in Indonesia PRAYER REQUESTS Pastor Dobson for Your blessings to be on their revival this month; and for the provision of Bibles for their ministry Suleman please save his girlfriend and give them a healthy relationship, lead them to get married if that is Your will Marie Please protect her and her children and deliver them from demonic attacks against them THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR Marlaine Christy Galegake THOSE WHO HAVE RECOMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST Aigul Xabangai George DEVOTIONAL READING: “Faith Produces Works,” by Billy Graham Ephesians 6:7 says, “Doing service as to the Lord...” “A true sacrament is not a mere creed, or ordinance, or form, but it is a life of service to God and to man. The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless. The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless. “There must be a practical outworking of our faith here in this present world, or it will never endure the world to come. The Pharisees majored on show but minored on service. We need fewer words and more charitable works; less palaver and more pity; less repetition of creed and more compassion.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Now, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and Hell. First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God's law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death…" Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Now that is bad news, but here's the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:9 & 13 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen. If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read "What To Do After You Enter Through the Door". Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Until next time, May the Lord Bless You!

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University's Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

#christian #devotions #family #pray #prayer

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townhallstranger · 6 years

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Barabbas

Barabbas is late. I had a feeling about Barabbas. I have to admit I was seduced by his resume: Herodic palace guard, Oriental astrologer and, here's the kicker, a speaking role as Pharisee 2 in Matthew 19:7. But here we are, the masses are screaming, the Son of God's in shackles, Pontius Pilate has to leave at 6:30 - and no Barabbas.

From my desk, I can see Angry Roman #6 climbing onto a large boulder, which luckily enough was already in position when we got here yesterday. Angry Roman #6 is one of our best, and this part is honestly a little beneath him, but for some reason he seemed really pumped about it, so we gave it to him. He's been in the book more times than I can count: John 10:19, Mark 14:47, Matthew 23:19, just to name a few. He had to sign a waiver for the last one; anyone having bodily contact with the Son of God has to sign a document saying basically that he or she promises not to use the opportunity to kill, maim, embarrass, upstage, or in any way through speech or deed damage the reputation of the Son of God, which more than a few people have tried their hand at. There are plenty of people who'd like to see Jesus fall flat on His face, believe me. We have to deal with zealots every day.

The security is insane. You should see the contract. For every public speaking event, at least 50 guards, armed to the teeth, posted at every entrance and exit and working the crowd, and a special detail for the Son of God. Every time. You have no idea what it's like keeping 50 guards on the payroll. If the forum happens to be light on rabble that day, the guards have to go and corral as many as they can before Jesus gets impatient and launches into His speech. More than once He's made with the Word of God to 50 guards, a shepherd, two or three lepers and a moneylender on his way to somewhere else. I catch heat for it, but what can I do? The event is a formality, anyway, and the real value is in the transcript. The Heavenly Father could just commission someone to write it all down, but that lacks spectacle. And boy, does He understand spectacle. Just about better than anybody else.

6:18. Where the hell is Barabbas? Pontius Pilate is looking at the sundial, Angry Roman #6 is making silent yelling faces and pumping his fists, the guards are looking bored, the madding crowd is starting to head for the exits, only to be pushed back into the fray by the guards. The rabble is getting pissed. We could have a full-scale Plague debacle on our hands. I do the only thing I can think of to do, given the circumstances.

I open the door.

Eyes shut against the searing lights, I step out. One, two, three. The fillings in my teeth rattle a little. Through the dead air, I hear the sound of shoes on dirt. I look down. They're mine. I'm walking across the clay floor of the city market. Then, I hear them. 2000 of them, maybe more. Shoved back by the guards, thinking of slitting throats. I walk towards the sound. I see them: mouths open, tongues showing, teeth glaring, arms whirling. I pick up the pace. I'm at the gate. I show my credentials to the guard. He steps back, surprised. I think he recognizes me.

I start to swing through the crowd, catching their energy, pumping my arms, picking up a word here and there. "Crucify!" I yell. "Not our king!" I wade, dissatisfied with the status quo, closer to Pilate, who seems to be mentally elsewhere. "I AM BARABBAS!" I shout. One of the guards, a quick thinker, hustles me to the prow of the crowd. "HERE IS BARABBAS!" he yells, and before I know it, I'm being hauled up hand over elbow onto the proscenium by some palace guards. I clearly don't fit the profile. Pilate looks nonplussed. "THIS IS BARABBAS!" the guard yells again, helpfully.

Pilate swings into action. "Here, before you, is Barabbas, the notorious criminal!" he bellows, gripping me by the back of the neck and giving me a good shake. "A criminal whose life is worth less than the dirt you spit on! A vicious, horrible, wicked, atrociously bad egg! This man has done nothing other than bring pain - and suffering - to well-heeled members of society with his inconsiderate and vile ways!" Boos. "Again I say to you: he is worth less than the worn-out sole of the son of a shepherd's sandal!" This last line is delivered with satisfaction, and the crowd responds with a strafing of approval. A man in front jabs at my ankles with a staff. I step back, but Pilate catches me and propels me forward, again by the nape of the neck. "What do you have to say for yourself, vile Barabbas?" he booms.

I wasn't expecting this. Barabbas isn't a speaking role. Pilate is going off-script, which he's done before, but this time it's bad. "Well?" bellows Pilate, giving me a good shove right between the shoulder blades. I half-stumble to the edge of the proscenium, look down into the hostile crowd, and say the first thing that comes to me.

"I'm innocent!" I howl.

I can see the Son of God's jaw drop. The transcriptionist's stylus stops moving. I wait.

The crowd is static. "He's innocent?" I hear a guy say to his wife, who shrugs. There is general confusion. "Why the hell are we here?" someone asks. A few people start to head for the gate, and the surprised guards let them pass, thinking, perhaps, that the event is over. I realize the profundity of my error. Due to my idiocy, the crowd now has to choose between condemning Jesus or lynching a purportedly innocent man, who frankly does not look like a criminal, all because I panicked. And this is all going in the book. The whole point of the Barabbas story, as was explained to us ad nauseam by a bored angel in the nerve center, was to illustrate the point that the Romans LOATHED Jesus so much they'd rather see him get it than condemn a guy who was going to be put to death anyway. If it was now a choice between Jesus and an innocent man - where was the irony? I had just taken care of that.

The guard who brought me to the front of the crowd must have realized what was happening, because he yells, "Wait!" A few people turn around. He points to me, his face a mask of rage. "That's the man who stole my 20 shekels!" I must look stunned, because he keeps going. "Thief! Usurper! Cheat! Give me my money!" He works his way to the front of the crowd, still yelling. "Degenerate! Donkey-lick! Liar! Foul son of market-thieves! Anti-claque! Pervert!" The crowd is riled up again. Men claw at my feet, and a woman chucks her water-gourd at me. I duck. Someone else throws a chicken leg, and pretty soon onions, millet, sandals and cucumbers are flying fast and thick. In the middle of the fray, the guard tosses me a leather pouch. I instinctively put it in my pocket. "STOP!" Pilate thunders, having been almost hit by a dead quail. "Search him!" he thumps, pointing to me with a thick digit.

The palace guards tackle me and begin pawing through my clothing. One of them triumphantly locates the bag and tosses it to Pilate, who looks surprised by nothing anymore. He pulls the string, turns it upside down, and sure enough - shekels hit the ground. I look at the guard. He looks at me. He almost smiles.

Now the crowd explodes. "THIEF!" they wail. "BUM! MURDERER!" Pilate grabs me by the nape of the neck again. "I ask you again," he rumbles, "who will you have, this thieving piece of human dung, or Jesus your Messiah? Choose!" This time the response is bracing. "Give us Barabbas!" they yell. "The lying roustabout! The horrible waste of skin! Child of Babylon! The irredeemable!"

"And what shall we do with Jesus?" Pilate prompts, working them up. "CRUCIFY HIM!" they scream. Pilate pitches me off the proscenium into the foaming crowd, and I go down. Someone kicks me in the balls with a sandal. I roll over, one arm across my face and the other protecting my lap. Another reveler prods me with his staff, and I roll again. Suddenly I'm being lifted up by the armpits by another guard who's gotten the picture, and who hauls me toward the gate by my belt, all the while yelling "FREE BARABBAS! FREE BARABBAS!", which in turn is picked up by the crowd until all of them are screaming it, all together, slapping me on the back and tousling my hair. One of them shoves a piece of silver into my outstretched hand. In this fashion I am led to the gate, and booted out with ceremony. I check my pocket to make sure my badge is still there. If they'd found it, there'd be actual hell to pay.

I begin the long, slow walk back to the nerve center. I've got to find out who that guard is. He's our new Herod.

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itsfarmerphil · 7 years

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We are all here for a reason! We’ve all been created for a purpose! We’ve all been created on purpose! We’ve all been given a choice as to how we will live out our lives! We’ve all been given the choice of how we will serve! We’ve all been given the opportunity to make a difference!

What will you do today to impact the lives of the people around you? What will you do today to impact the lives of those who are in need? What will you do today to make a difference in the lives of the people that you interact with? The choice is yours! Will it be a positive impact? Will it be a negative impact? Will you be an encourager or a discourager? Will you be an ambassador of peace? We each get to choose! We each will have different opportunities come across our lives today and we will each need to choose how we will respond! Will we speak up? Will we speak out? Will we step in? Will we step out? Will we step up? Will we choose to make a difference? Will we choose to make something beautiful out of our lives?

Day 44: Bible In One Year 2017 Devotional, Proverbs 4:20-27, Matthew 27:45-66, Exodus 13, Exodus 14

Today’s devotional is titled:

Make Something Beautiful Out of Your Life

Will you choose to cooperate with God’s plans for your life? Will you choose to join forces with God to accomplish the plans and purpose He has for your life? Will you choose to accept God’s help to complete the purpose for which you were created? Will you choose to be obedient to God’s calling upon your life? Will you choose to walk with Him daily so that together in your imperfection and His perfection something beautiful will be made out of your life? Will you get off the sidelines and get onto the field allowing your actions to speak for the faith and the hope that is inside of you because of Jesus? Jesus wants us to walk with Him daily to walk out the plans and purpose He has created us to accomplish! Will you allow Him to be a partner in your daily life? Will you choose to cooperate and respond to the still quiet voice, the prompting of the Holy Spirit in each situation that God could be glorified? Will you take hold of Romans 8:28…

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. —Romans 8:28

So let’s reflect on all of this through the key points from today’s devotional:

1. Walk wisely … Proverbs 4:20-27

20My son, pay attention to what I say;turn your ear to my words. 21Do not let them out of your sight,keep them within your heart; 22for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. 23Above all else, guard your heart,for everything you do flows from it. 24Keep your mouth free of perversity;keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25Let your eyes look straight ahead;fix your gaze directly before you. 26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

–from Proverbs 4

From the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks! It’s not what goes into us that taints us or tarnishes us, but what is in our heart that overflows into the words we say that impairs or contaminates us! We need to allow God’s Word and God’s Commandments to be written on our hearts! We need to invite Jesus into our heart so that He can help clean up the past and help us walk out our present so that we can arrive at the future that we can hope for that He has gone ahead of us to prepare and has promised. Let’s not allow the storms or the challenges to take our eyes off of God! Let’s keep our eyes on Him for our God is greater than any problem that could come our way! Let’s walk out this life in alignment to His will and His calling upon our lives! It will impact where we look! It will direct what we say! It will guide us in what we see! It will instruct in where we go!

Today’s devotional shares the following in relation to today’s reading and first key:

You have a part to play in responding to God’s call, staying on his paths, living wisely and thereby making something beautiful out of your life. In this passage we see four areas in particular that you need to watch if you want to enjoy victory over temptation:

What you think about You can choose what you think about. This is of first importance because the life you lead will flow from your heart. ‘Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life’ (v.23). You are to fill your hearts with good things – especially the words of God (vv.20–21). They bring ‘life’ and ‘health’ (v.22). Think about ‘things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy’ (Philippians 4:8).

What you say Your words are powerful. Use them carefully. ‘Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips’ (Proverbs 4:24). It is said that the words of the tongue should have three gatekeepers: ‘Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?’

What you look at Guard your eyes. Be careful what you look at (especially in this age of TV and internet). ‘Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you’ (v.25). Jesus warned that if you look at the wrong things, your ‘whole body will be full of darkness’. But he also said, ‘If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light’ (Matthew 6:22–23).

Where you go You will avoid a lot of temptation if you are careful about where you go. ‘Make level paths for your feet… keep your foot from evil’ (Proverbs 4:26–27). The writer of Hebrews quotes from this verse. He urges us to ‘run with perseverance the race marked out for us’ with our eyes fixed ‘on Jesus… “Make level paths for your feet”’ (Hebrews 12:1–2,12).

—from Day 44: Bible In One Year 2017

2. Give generously … Matthew 27:45-66

45From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. 57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. 62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

–from Matthew 27

Jesus suffered so much in order that we could receive and experience the presence of God! Not only did He give up His life on the cross but also He had to deal with abandonment for our sake! He put it all on the line so that God’s perfect will could be accomplished! We couldn’t never do it in our own strength and God had to take things into His own hands in order to make a way when there didn’t seem to be a way! Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, nobody comes to the Father except through Him! He bridged the gap that sin had created and had caused a separation between God and man!

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So we need to make a choice! We have the freewill to choose whom we will serve! Have you decided to follow Jesus yet? If not, why not make today your day?

Today’s devotional shares the following in relation to today’s reading and second key:

Jesus experienced appalling suffering and real separation from God in order that you could enjoy the presence of God.

Jesus was abandoned by the religious leaders, by his own family, by the crowds, by his disciples and finally, ‘Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”’ (v.46, MSG).

Jesus’ words of agony express a real sense of alienation from God. He is quoting from Psalm 22:1, which is a cry of suffering, lament and alienation from God. In the book of Job we saw how Scripture engages with the difficulties and complexities of human suffering. At the cross though we see God’s ultimate answer to our suffering – he chooses to enter into it and take it upon himself.

John Stott reflects on suffering and the cross: ‘I could never myself believe in God if it were not for the cross… in the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?’

Yet Jesus’ embrace of our suffering on the cross goes beyond mere solidarity. His words reflect how he came ‘to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Matthew 20:28). He died so that you could go free. Jesus was abandoned so that you and I might be accepted by God.

We see the reality of this acceptance by what happens at the moment of Jesus’ death: ‘the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom’ (27:51). The symbolism of this is explained in the book of Hebrews. The curtain separated the people from the ‘Most Holy Place’ – that is the presence of God (Hebrews 9:3).

Now, through Jesus and because of his death on the cross for you, you can experience God’s presence and an intimate friendship with him. Even the very detail that the curtain was torn from the top to the bottom reminds us that it was the work of God, and not of humans, that enabled our acceptance into God’s presence. You can know God’s acceptance and presence because of Jesus’ abandonment and suffering.

Even at the moment God acted decisively in human history through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he included human beings in his plans. He used a rich man called Joseph of Arimathea, who had become a disciple of Jesus, to buy the tomb where Jesus was to be buried and then resurrected (Matthew 27:57–60).

What matters is not so much whether you are rich or poor; but how you respond to what Jesus has done for you and what you do with what you have. Joseph gave generously and God made something beautiful out of his life that has been remembered for all time.

—from Day 44: Bible In One Year 2017

3. Trust totally … Exodus 13:1-14:31

Consecration of the Firstborn

1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.” 3Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. 4Today, in the month of Aviv, you are leaving. 5When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month: 6For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord. 7Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. 8On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. 10You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year. 11“After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your ancestors, 12you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. 13Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons. 14“In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’ 16And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”

Crossing the Sea

17When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. 19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” 20After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

—Exodus 13

1Then the Lord said to Moses, 2“Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this. 5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” 6So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. 10As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” 13Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 15Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” 19Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. 21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 23The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” 26Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. 29But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

—Exodus 14

God made a way when there didn’t seem to be a way! He showed first at the Red Sea and finally through the cross! Share the Good News with the people around you! Make a difference today! Share the hope that is within you! Make today beautiful!

Today’s devotional shares the following in relation to today’s reading and third and final key:

God’s deliverance through Jesus is foreshadowed in the Old Testament. As God opened the way into his presence through the tearing of the curtain, so God opened a way through the sea by the parting of the waters.

All the way through, we see God’s initiative in delivering his people out of Egypt: ‘The Lord brought you out… Tell your children, “I do this because of what the Lord did for me”… For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand… The Lord brings you into the land… with a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery’ (13:3–16).

God led his people all the way – although, interestingly, he did not take them the shortest route (v.17). Sometimes, instead of taking us the easy way, God takes us a longer and more difficult way to prepare us for the battles ahead. Even though they were now out of Egypt they were going to have to fight one battle after another. They needed to learn to rely totally on God’s strength and guidance.

He guided them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (v.21); he guided them constantly. This is what we need individually and as the community of the people of God – his constant guidance.

Sometimes we get into situations where there seems to be no way out. The Egyptians were behind them and the sea was in front of them, ‘they were exceedingly frightened’ (14:10, AMP). Yet Moses totally trusted in God to deliver them. He said, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today… The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still’ (vv.13–14). I often come back to these verses when I find myself in a situation where I cannot, humanly speaking, see a way out.

Moses had to play his part (‘Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea’, v.16a), God’s part was rather harder; he divided the waters. When we pray, for example, for someone to be filled with the Holy Spirit, God uses us. You have to stretch out your hands and pray. But God fills people with his Spirit – he does the hard part. Nevertheless he involves you in his plans.

God’s part was to bring rescue and salvation: ‘The Lord saved Israel’ (v.30). Your part is to trust in God: ‘the people put their trust in him and in Moses his servant’ (v.31).

God wants you to cooperate with him. This is the way that he has designed his creation – whether it is the natural world (where we plant and God gives the growth) or the kingdom of God (where God brings about his kingdom, yet you have a part to play).

—from Day 44: Bible In One Year 2017

How will you make a difference? We are all here for a reason! We've all been created for a purpose! We've all been created on purpose!

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blackchurchnewswire · 6 years

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LISTEN: Whyte House Family Devotions: A Prayer for the Family, the Church, the Nation and the World #361 (Thursday, May 17, 2018): “Faith Produces Works,” by Billy Graham

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#christian #devotions #family #pray #prayer

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