Spiritual Integrity
Scripture – John 19:12-16: From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) “Pilate tried to set Jesus free.” He never grasped the fact that Jesus is the One who sets us free. Pilate knew what he wanted to do. He knew what he ought to do. But….he stopped short of doing it. I do that more often than I’d like to think. Sometimes I remain quiet when I should speak up. Other times I talk when I should shut up. There are many times when I choose to avoid getting involved because it would inconvenience me. A lot of times I’m afraid of what people might think. There are many things that keep me from doing what I want to do and what ought to do.
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) It’s easy to sit back and take shots at Pilate. Yet I share more similarities with him than I realize. I will pay attention to my behavior and my choices today. I’ll note what really controls me – what leads me to act in specific ways.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord Jesus, I’m sorry for the times I let fear control me. Help me value your impression of me over that of other people. Give me courage to live with spiritual integrity today.
An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting tomorrow morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) “Pilate tried to set Jesus free.” He never grasped the fact that Jesus is the One who sets us free. Pilate knew what he wanted to do. He knew what he ought to do. But….he stopped short of doing it. I do that more often than I’d like to think. Sometimes I remain quiet when I should speak up. Other times I talk when I should shut up. There are many times when I choose to avoid getting involved because it would inconvenience me. A lot of times I’m afraid of what people might think. There are many things that keep me from doing what I want to do and what ought to do.
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) It’s easy to sit back and take shots at Pilate. Yet I share more similarities with him than I realize. I will pay attention to my behavior and my choices today. I’ll note what really controls me – what leads me to act in specific ways.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord Jesus, I’m sorry for the times I let fear control me. Help me value your impression of me over that of other people. Give me courage to live with spiritual integrity today.
An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting tomorrow morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.
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