Some thoughts this Easter from Faith's Checkbook by Spurgeon, devotional for March 28:
"If we obey the Lord, He will compel our adversaries to see that His blessing rests upon us. ...
"It is for saints to lead the way among men by holy influence: they are not to be the tail, to be dragged hither and thither by others. We must not yield to the spirit of the age, but compel the age to do homage to Christ. If the Lord be with us, we shall not crave tolerance for religion, but we shall seek to seat it on the throne of society. Has not the Lord made His people priests? Surely they are to teach and must not be learners from the philosophies of unbelievers. Are we not in Christ made kings to reign upon the earth? How, then can we be the servants of custom, the slaves of human opinion?
"... Should we allow the name of the Lord Jesus to be kept in the background? Should our religion drag along as a tail? Should it not rather lead the way and be the ruling force with ourselves and others?"
Today we remember that two thousand years ago the Pharisees and Romans thought they had silenced Jesus. He was crucified and laid in a tomb. Dead. They had removed this troubler from society.
Or so they thought.
But Jesus could not be removed. The Father's plan was far greater than that and men, in their ignorance and evil intent, were assisting that plan.
As Christians we have a risen Saviour. We know, as Job did, that our Redeemer lives. So why, oh why do we remain silent? Why do we try to accommodate the philosophies of this world? Why do we tolerate false gods and false ideologies? Not just in our schools and governments, but sadly, even in our churches?
The world says one thing and we scramble to fit it into what the Bible says, twisting the Word to accommodate sin, instead of starting with the Bible and seeing the world's lies for what they truly are.
As we remember the greatest sacrifice this Easter weekend are we also able to be a holy influence in our homes, our workplaces, our schools, our churches, and our communities and stand up for Truth?
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, KJV).
