Today’s Reading, Mark 14
Focal Scripture: Mark 14:56 “For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree.”
How we treat others in what we say and do reveals the character of a person. If a person is not honest or insists that lies be told about another person it reveals evil and brokenness in their heart. You think it might not happen but it happens more often than you would believe. For instance, this is how most rumors get started about others. A person either gets jealous or decides to ruin someone’s reputation to make themselves look better. This can happen by what they say and even in how they convince other people to believe a lie they concocted.
In today’s reading this is done by the religious leaders. They are accusing Jesus and having witnesses give false testimony about what Jesus did and was teaching. These leaders were so determined to get rid of Jesus that they would break the very law they said was important to them. However, Jesus didn’t call them out because of their sin, he allowed them to continue it and expose the wickedness of their hearts.
You might be thinking that this topic is heavy and doesn’t need to be addressed in a daily devotional. However, I will argue that this is the right place to have this important conversation. Religious leaders sin and religious leaders will protect their institutions at all cost if they are not submitted to the Lord. After all this is what is happening with Jesus. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy and their love of the law over God.
This truth must not be forgotten in our current context. Many religious leaders today will hide and demonize others to cover their own sin. They will promote false narratives and even have witnesses that tell the story they want told. These men will be judged and they will have to give an account for all of their actions.
The application for you today is very straight forward. Pray for those who lead you and pastor your congregations. Pray that they meet the biblical qualifications. Pray that they be lifted up to give an account to the Lord. They must understand that ministry and position can’t become more important than their personal walk with the Lord.
Nothing reveals a religious leaders heart more than when things don’t go their way or as planned. If they become angry, combative, a gossip, and cruel they have much sin in their life and need to step away. In many cases they need to examine if they have really been changed by the gospel.
I know this topic is heavy. I know it’s not fun to discuss but churches must do a better job of dealing with bad leaders and removing them from ministry. When they show you who they really are when problems arise, take them at their actions.
Our churches deserve better and the Bible demands a certain standard.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Mark 15-16
