5 February 2016 - peering past the pressure

If we know what we ought to do than we must do it regardless of what others think.

John the Baptist tells Herod what he needs to hear even though it results in his death.

It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.

Whereas Herod knows that he ought not put John to death but does so for the sake of appearances.

The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.

Herod knows that John is a righteous and holy man. He likes listening to him speak even though John sometimes says things that are hard to here. He knows that he does not deserve death. But his reputation is on the line.

Do we do bad things because others expect it? Do we omit good things because they are watching?

We should be more like David. Opposition does not stop him. Even when he faces giants he doesn't back down from his duty.

When his hand let fly the slingstone
that crushed the pride of Goliath.

David isn't like this because he spends his time focusing on the enemy, on how strong or how numerous the enemy is. He is like this because his heart is set on God.

With his whole being he loved his Maker
and daily had his praises sung;

There is a certain place for prudence.

Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (see Luke 14:31).

But ultimately if we don't learn to trust in the LORD we cannot be the disciples he intends us to be.

We don't overcome giants by carefully measuring them. We don't walk on water by fixating on the waves. We don't even do the right thing in hard situations by caring too much about what people will think. But we need Jesus to fill the vacuum these thoughts leave in their absence. We need his praise to fill our hearts

The LORD live! And blessed be my Rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
Therefore will I proclaim you, O LORD, among the nations,
and I will sing praise to your name.