Daily Devotional - June 13, 2025

 

6/13/25

Good morning, Friends,

John 12:42-43 NLT

[42] Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. [43] For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

Human approval is not necessarily a bad thing. However, loving anything more than God is never a good thing. Here, we see many people who did believe in Jesus, as the son of God, the Messiah. But their fear of the Pharisees was greater. They did not want to be put out of the synagogue for believing in Jesus Christ, so, they chose to be secret believers to avoid persecution. 

Friends, there is definitely a cost to trusting in Jesus. There will be consequences for your allegiance to him. Everyone, every system, every organization, everything that is opposed to him will find offense when you are truly submitted in obedience to the teachings of Jesus Messiah. If you faced no persecution, no rejection, no consequence, and if there is no cost to your faith, then your faith isn't really worth anything. 

The optics are terrible to imagine people caring more about human approval than God's approval. However, it is more meaningful , in my opinion, for us to look at '"our" lives and see if we operate in the same function, under the same system, with the same thought process in mind. What does your trust in Jesus the Christ "look" like in a world system that is systematically and inherently depraved? 

Are you a secret believer? A closet Christian? An actor playing your role to avoid anyone noticing? Is this even possible to be so and truly have a relationship with Christ?

The ball is in your hands, shoot the rock or pass it to someone else . 

Good day, Beloved!

Maranatha (The Lord is coming)  

Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)

- Grace & Peace

Pastor Trent