Hello and welcome to my Spiritual Sunday contribution this week. I would like to thank Charlotte & Ginger for hosting this wonderfully inspirational event. Please click on the Spiritual Sundays button on my sidebar to visit others today.
I want to thank you all once again for praying for my mother this past week. Your prayers have made all the difference!
As we are celebrating Palm Sunday this weekend, I thought I would share this today. I wrote it for our church bulletin a few years ago.
WHAT ROLE DO WE PLAY IN PALM SUNDAY?
"On the next day the great multitude who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to cry out, 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.'" John 12:12-13
I wonder, if we had been there that day, would we have taken up the palm branches also, only to desert Him like the multitude, when the going got tough? Would we have been caught up in the excitement and frenzy of the crowd, following Jesus because of His miracles and wanting to be associated with Him because we thought He was going to be the next great leader? Or would we follow Him because we loved Him and believed He was who He said He was, the Son of God!
Many times we get caught up in the excitement and frenzy of the moment.
Maybe we are attending a Gospel concert or a wonderful church service and we think being a Christian is where it's at. The world doesn't know what they are missing! But afterwards, we go back to living our usual life style and try to do the best we can.
Many in the crowd that day followed Jesus right up until His arrest, but once they realized He was going to be crucified, they abandoned Him.
When the going gets tough, do we also abandon Him by running ahead of Him and doing our own thing? Or do we become fearful and turn our backs on Him completely for a time? When we do any of these things, we sin! We hurt the One who loves us most!
We are to trust Him in all our circumstances. He is the Way and He will show us the way, even when all of our circumstances are screaming, "It's hopeless!"
If we have faith, then we will trust Him in every trial and tribulation.
What about our commitment to the Lord? Do we act like a Christian only on the night of the Gospel concert or do we live like we belong to Him every day?
What about our friends, neighbors, and unsaved loved ones? Are we reaching out to them with the love of Christ or are we keeping His blessings all to ourselves? Can they see the love of Christ in us or do we speak, think, and act the way the rest of the world does?
What does our body language tell everyone in the supermarket, when we are stuck in the lineup too long? When we finally make it to the checkout, do we smile and wish the clerk a nice day, or do we frown and make a fuss? Can those around us tell we are "different" because of the way we react in that lineup?
If we are God's children, then we are His ambassadors to the world around us. Let us represent Him well, no matter where we are or what comes our way. Let us not flee at the first sign of trouble or be selfish by hugging all of His blessings to ourselves. Let us be a blessing to others and stand up for Jesus! Palm Sunday, every Sunday, every day!
The Lord be with you and make you a blessing today!
Very good Sandi. I guess we think a lot alike. The post I'm doing for S.S. is about Palm Sunday and asks the same question you did about following Jesus.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Spiritual Sunday.
Charlotte
HI! I can't remember if I left a message! I've looked at your post for today, but been having technical difficulities and don't remember if I told you how great I think your post is today! Easter is fun to decorate for, but most importantly I get such a renewal of life feeling everytime I think about the meaning. It just makes me feel so strong in my faith. With God all things are possible, I have this as a visor clip in my car. It reminds me daily!
ReplyDeleteHugs and Blessings!
Lisa
You words and especially your questions are convicting.Or I should say they are convicting of me. I feel like pleading GUILTY! Thanks for shining a light on me with your penetrating questions.Have a great Sunday.
ReplyDeleteYou said it all and thankyou. Happy Pink Saturday and we should all remember how grateful we should be and how lucky we are to be here, Char
ReplyDeleteSandi your post has made me ask myself some questions and I honestly don't know what I'd answer and that's not good enough I want my heart to be so sold out for God that I know what my answer would be. Thank you for this eye opening post.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, Sandi :)
Melly:)
Sandi,
ReplyDeleteThis is one powerful post!!!! I have just started reading SS Posts tonight and yours has me really examining myself, and asking a lot of question. Thank you so much for sharing. So inspiring!!
Blessings,
Sue
Great reminder and food for thought as how we live everyday. Do we show we know Jesus daily or just in the moment. Praying I'm showing Him daily. Have a wonderful SS.
ReplyDeleteSandi, I had thought about covering this territory, too, and I just decided to focus on the joy I feel when I think about Him entering the Holy City as the King of Kings, riding on a donkey with the crowds hailing him by waving palm branches as the prophets said it would happen. And I think of how many more Palm Sundays until we hear the trumpet call for us to go be with Him forever. Even if the Lord should tarry, I want to dance for joy because I know what is coming, and that is eternity in the light of His love, beginning now!
ReplyDeleteHe is GOOD! I may miss the mark on a daily basis, but He is so faithful to forgive! :-)
XO,
Sheila :-)
A beautiful post, Sandi. I've always been fascinated by Palm Sunday - God in human form...His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, beginning His journey to the cross. The sacrifice is humbling -mind boggling!
ReplyDeleteHave a glorious Palm Sunday...Kathy
Good reminder that today is special, but that every day we are to remember Whose we are! Thanks for sharing. Happy Spiritual Sunday
ReplyDeleteJesus does not abandon us, and I sure not going to abandon him! Back then or now. This is a powerful post. God Bless you for making us think.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Ginger
Hi! Thanks for stopping by my post. I thoroughly enjoyed your post today. It made me really think about myself. I don't have a lot of patience when I am waiting in line. Thanks for sharing that..it's nice to evaluate myself of things to try harder to improve.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Gigi
Well said! Fear and faith can not coexist together....we're one or the other either full of fear or in faith! Today it's so easy to fear with all our circumstances but he calls us to trust in HIM only not the things of this world! We have the tendency to put material things ahead of Him and others.....so focused on "self" that is the opposite of taking up HIS cross! Thank you for sharing your heart. Lu
ReplyDeleteHi, sandi:
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. I'm so glad your lovely Mom is doing better! Blessings to you this day!
Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHappy (belated) Pink Saturday (on Monday!)
X Es X
Sandi,
ReplyDeleteA lovely Palm Sunday post...thank you for your uplifting words that we really need to think about.
Blessings,
Jean
My post on my Oak Rise Cottage blog shares a painting by artist Helen C. Read entitled "Hosanna" for Palm Sunday.
ReplyDeleteYes, many who stood by the road cheering on Palm Sunday had their agenda for being there - I am aware this Palm Sunday that following Jesus is about my agenda but about His mission. take care - Judith (sorry I'm late with Spiritual Sunday this week)
ReplyDelete