Fighting to post this before the next crash

Exodus 27-28 Matthew 21:1-22

“The leading priests and the teachers of the law saw that Jesus was doing wonderful things and that the children were praising him in the Temple, saying, ‘Praise to the Son of David.’ All these things made the priests and the teachers of the law very angry.” (Matthew 21:15 NCV)

After Jesus entered Jerusalem in His triumphal parade, He went to the Temple and cleared out the tradesman who had turned a place of solemn worship into a den of thieves. Then, people came to Him and He healed them. The Scribes and Pharisees saw all the great things He was doing and heard the people call Him the Son of David, and they got angry, in large part, I believe, because they were frightened. They were afraid that the Romans would get wind of this Jesus and would move troops in to Jerusalem to crush this most recent would-be Messiah. They were so afraid of losing their power that they didn’t recognize truth when He showed up.

It’s so easy to worry so much about our own position that we overlook the truth of God’s call on our lives. We’re in such a rush to get to work, or a meeting, that we overlook the person who needs ministry. Besides, how would it look to the boss if we were spending time with “those people.” We don’t make time for the people who need us because we have our own needs, or we’re worried about how other people will react. And we don’t take time for God, because, well…what would people think? Maybe if we focused on the things that were important: God, family, friends, and people in need of ministry, we’d find the time to do the ministry that God calls us to do – without worrying about what others will think.

Lord, how often do I turn away from opportunities to share Your love with others because I worry about what people will think? How often, when I do minister, do I look over my shoulder, worried about what other people may think? Help me to be so focused on You, that I don’t worry about any criticism.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.