Good Morning Devotion :-)❤️

shirleynpenalosa (63)in #christian-trail • 7 years ago

Pleasing the Crowd

They shouted back, “Crucify him!” “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the crowd only roared the louder, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, anxious to please the crowd, released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to crucify him.Mark 15:13-15

Pilate knew that an innocent man stood before him. He knew that the true instigators were the chief priests and that their motivation was envy. He also understood that Barabbas was a convicted, dangerous criminal. Yet he went against his own instincts, his responsibilities as an official, and the facts before him. Pilate sold out, and he knew it. When he handed Jesus over to the guard, Pilate set into motion events that would likely haunt him for the rest of his life. He not only killed an innocent man and endangered the safety of his community, he also betrayed himself. He appeased an angry mob, but he did so at great expense.

Sometimes we hear voices from every corner telling us what we should or should not do. As believers our first priority is to do what is right and to be true to God’s Word. It’s not always easy to take the high road, but it is the road God asks us to travel. Take a moment and ask God to help you to do the right thing. Determine to please him in your job, your decisions, and your relationships no matter what the crowd thinks.

LORD, I want to please you rather than people. That’s not always easy, but you didn’t travel an easy road either. You embraced the Father’s will rather than your own. You shut out the noise of the crowd by finding a place of solitude to seek God. Today I will shut myself in with you, for my heart’s desire is to please you. Help me to do the right thing no matter what the crowd might say.

WHATEVER ELSE LOVE MAY ASK OF US, IT DOES NOT ASK US TO BE DOORMATS OR COMPULSIVE PLEASERS OR PEACE-AT-ANY-PRICE PERSONS. THE PRIMARY GIFT OF LOVE IS THE OFFERING OF ONE’S MOST HONEST SELF THROUGH ONE’S MOST HONEST SELF-DISCLOSURE.
—John Powell

Good morning, my grateful steemit family and friends! Today, I am reminded to please my One and only audience, GOD. There were times that I'm being tested and tried to please the crowd instead of pleasing God. I was caught in a dilemma whether to do something just to please the people around me instead of pleasing the Lord. Too many times, this happened in the workplace. Even to the point of forging signatures. Yes, I've been doing that when I was still working in an office, there were several who approached me and let me signed some documents even without the real signatory. I was so guilty of it back then and I couldn't do anything about it because, I was pleasing my office mates. I thought of doing a favor for them and I feel that I was helping them in a way, I knew I could.

But it is wrong, even though my intentions are right. I prayed to God and confessed it. Since then I wanted to become firm. My "NO" should always be a "no" and my "YES" should always be a "yes" . It was so hard because, many of them got mad at me and even not talking to me anymore. The number of friends I have had decreased tremendously because of what I did. Yes, even relatives. But I just did what is right and pleasing to God. I don't have to please everyone, as long as I am pleasing my Lord and my Savior.

I praise and thank God for ms. Cate for sharing her devotion today. I hope and I pray that everyone reading this will also be blessed and be encouraged to please God and not men. :-) Good morning and be blessed. :-)

(Source: from my friend's devotional materials)

I am @sashley a.k.a. shirleynpenalosa, a recipient of God's love, mercy and grace. ❤️

Have a blessed Summer month of March 2018 everyone :-)❤️

I am forever grateful to God every day of my life for giving me everything that I need and praise Him all the more for not giving me everything I want. To God be all the honor, praise and glory ❤️ :-)

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