Today’s devotion highlights our courage to stand as witnesses for Christ.
Bible Reading of the Day
AM – 2 Chronicles 29-31
PM – John 18:1-23
๐ฟ๐๐๐๐: ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐๐:๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐พ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐? ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ .
After praying, Jesus left with His disciples across the Brook Kidron, which had a garden, and they all entered it. Meanwhile, Judas, with a group of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, arrived there carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, aware of everything that was about to happen, stepped forward and asked, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered, “๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.” Jesus responded, “๐ด ๐๐ ๐๐.” Judas, who had betrayed Him, was standing with them. After Jesus was apprehended, the authorities began their interrogation, inquiring, โ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.โ โ v.19.
Today, our focus is on this question. The high priest aimed to affirm the teachings he shared with His disciples. His reply uncovers important truths for us to reflect on. First, Christ instructs the high priest to ask the disciples and witnessesโthose who saw His miracles, signs, and wondersโto testify and confirm His claims.
When making a claim, someone often needs to testify to verify the truth. A typical example is in court, where trials rely on evidence and witnesses to support the plaintiff’s case, and the judge then determines its validity. In this scenario, Jesus Christ is on trial. He isn’t there to dispute His actions but to affirm His identity as the long-anticipated Messiah. Therefore, He instructed the high priest to ask those who know Him.
Friend, if you have heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, we all share the same responsibility to speak out, share our thoughts, and proclaim what we’ve received, just like the disciples did in the book of Acts. When the religious leaders warned Peter, John, and the others not to preach in Jesus’ name again, their response should serve as an example for every Christian, including you and me. The Bible states, โ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ , ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ .โ โ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐:๐๐,๐๐
It is very hard to stay silent when the truth is at risk. Mordecai once told Esther, saying, โ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐; ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐’๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ : ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐?โ โ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐:๐๐
At this pivotal moment, it is vital for us both to have the bravery and confidence to speak honestly. We are living in the end times, with signs of these times evident everywhere, and the world appears prepared for the anti-Christ to rise as a prominent leader. People are looking for answers to numerous global challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically affected the world, leading to many business failures and increasing the need for solutions to urgent worldwide problems.
During the pandemic, particularly in Singapore, you have to scan a barcode to access certain places. This is just the start; we are gradually accepting this idea, and many of us are familiar with the term “New Normal.” This concept helps the world adapt to the current situation.
You and I carry a heavy responsibility; we should not stay silent or passive. The song continues like this:
Donโt go to heaven alone
Take someone that you know;
Friends and neighbours in sin
Are you trying to win?
Your home is in heaven โtis true
But heaven was made for them too,
So donโt go to heaven alone
Take somebody with you.
When we hear the gospel, we obtained that faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. โ๐บ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ โ โ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐:๐๐. Let us embody this faith daily, brothers and sisters; not merely content with salvation, but also aiming to grow in the faith taught by the Gospel.
Let’s bring our love ones, friends and the people around us to our Lord Jesus Christ.