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Do Not Let Me Be Silent, Lord
Andrea Lende • July 24, 2021
John 12:42-43
Do Not Let Me Be Silent, Lord
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Do-Not-Let-Me-Be-Silent--Lord-e14uo7f
John 12:42-43
“And yet many even of the leading men (the authorities and the nobles) believed and trusted in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that [if they should acknowledge Him] they would be expelled from the synagogue;”
“For they loved the approval and the praise and the glory that come from men [instead of and] more than the glory that comes from God. [They valued their credit with men more than their credit with God.]”
The desire for approval.
It goes back to beginning of time.
The Pharisees desired approval.
The nobles did too.
The leaders who were born into nobility still fought to stay endearing to those around them.
They had position and stature in the community, and they didn’t want to give it up.
So, they quietly believed in Him.
Some two thousand years later, the desire for approval lives on.
We all long for other’s approval and sometimes do crazy things to get it.
Other times we are immobilized by this desire.
As I read our passages today, I wondered how often I have quietly believed.
How often have I not openly stood up for my belief in Jesus?
And did I not speak because it was more convenient for me not to?
It is easy to pass judgement on the Pharisees and nobles, but I, too, have been silent when I should have spoken.
I’ve just lived long enough to overcome the silence.
There may still be a time when I won’t be able to overcome my fears.
A time when I will be silent instead of speaking out because it will be more convenient.
So, I pray for strength.
Strength to stand up and speak out when it seems difficult.
Speak about Jesus and His sacrifice for us all.
Our God is gracious, and He will answer our prayer for strength to be His voice and serve His people.
Today I choose to speak up for the Lord even when it is not convenient or popular to do so.
May you find the opportunity to tell someone about the Lord, our Savior, to encourage, uplift, and offer eternity to a fellow human being.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me to share You with others. Thank You for reminding me that status and approval here on earth is of no consequence in Your kingdom. Help me stand up for You and stand in the gap for others. Help me provide an opportunity for another to know You and learn about You. Equip me and use me as You will. Strengthen me in all ways to serve You. May Your will be done, Lord. Keep my eyes on You and not this world. Keep my eyes fixed on Your glory and not the glory this world supposes it has. Thank You for choosing me to know You, Father. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM the Great I AM, and nothing shall come before Me.
Response: Help me put You first and be obedient to You in all ways, Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.