Advent Devotionals: Day 19

If you’ve ever received a jury summons, you’ll know that getting out of that jury summons is your top priority!  However, if you’ve ever fulfilled your civic duty, you’ll know that it’s actually quite an interesting experience and a privilege to be a part of.  To sit in that jury box and see our justice system at work, especially when it’s a case in which you had a hand in delivering justice.  It’s an incredible feeling.

Now imagine you are on the other side, sitting in the defense and someone was making a judgement about you?  Imagine there were witnesses making false accusations against you.  If you read the entire passage of 2 Timothy 4, Paul is calling Timothy to preach the Word. To live out his faith. Even though there will be some who will abandon him. Some who will say false things against him.  

The Lord will judge our hearts and our motives as He did Paul’s. And there may be a time when it will actually be hard to be a Christian. Maybe a time when its actually illegal.  Stay faithful for we have a Righteous Judge waiting to give us a crown of Righteousness! I love the old adage, “If Christianity were a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  

Prayer:  Lord, You know my heart.  I pray that you would strengthen it.  Create in me a boldness to preach your Word and to live out my faith.  Help me to not think about what others may say about me, even if they speak out against me.  I want to be faithful to you and what you’ve called me to do, for you are my Righteous Judge, and you have laid up for me a crown of righteousness.

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