Daily Devotions
Today’s Reading: John 19:1-22 & Psalm 14
[Pilate asked,] “Don’t You realize I have power either to free You or to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above.” John 19:10-11
Pilate liked to think of himself as a man with power. After all, as the Roman governor, he had power over the province of Judea, including matters of life and death. He even thought he had power over the life and death of our Lord.
Are there “Pilates” among us? A worker says, “This is my paycheck!” An executive claims, “I came up by my own efforts!” A honor student boasts, “I owe this to my straight A’s!” To Pilate—and to all Pilates—Jesus makes it clear: Power belongs to God alone. If we possess any power here on earth, it comes from God alone.
Almighty God challenges no one to do battle over the question of who has power. He simply invites us, and all people, to acknowledge His gracious lordship and to confess Him to be our Shepherd, Lord, and King. Pilate chose Caesar. In so doing, he lost Christ.
How is it with us? We claim we acknowledge Christ as King. After all, we’re baptized, we pray to Him, and we worship Him. Nonetheless, we must also continually ask, “Whom do we follow? What do we choose?” Ambition or Christ? Security or the Kingdom of God? Status or the righteousness of God?
He gives to each of us the benefits of His passion, if we will but believe, accept, and acknowledge Him to be our Lord. And—wonder of wonders—He makes it possible and gives us the power to accept, to believe, and to choose Him as Lord—Lord of all power and might!
Prayer
Almighty God, grant us the grace of humble submission to Your will so that we may joyfully acknowledge Your power and majesty; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Response
Do you recognize and welcome His sovereignty over all areas of your life?