Whom Do You Seek - Easterنموونە

One of my favourite movies is The Avengers. Filled with superheroes and supervillains, there is one scene that stands out. The villain, dressed in armour and wielding a scepter, stands over a crowd, demanding that they kneel before him. The crowd, intimidated and fearful, obey and fall to the ground. Except for one man.

Old and frail, but determined, the man stands defiant. In a soft voice he whispers, “Not to men like you”.

In the midst of the crowd, one man stood for what was right — unafraid of the consequences. As much as he stood against evil, he also stood apart from everyone else.

Jesus faced a similar situation. Brought before Herod and Pilate, He is insulted, beaten, falsely accused, and punished. With the voices of the crowd calling for death and the ridicule from the authorities of the day, Jesus stands in the truth of who He is with patience, forgiveness of His persecutors, and trust in God.

We too, will face opposition in this world. We are elect exiles, living counter-culturally to the current of our society, because we live for the Kingdom of God. And, we must stand for God’s Kingdom, just as Jesus did. There are many ways to do this. Invite someone to church. Serve someone in need. Share the gospel with a friend. Help an enemy. Love the unloved.

Whether these efforts are met with jeers of the crowd, social awkwardness, or just indifference, we have acted as a good and faithful servant. We have shone the light of Jesus into the darkness — like a City on a Hill.

Today, ponder this: Where can you stand for Jesus today? Is there something holding you back from taking a step to bring the light of Jesus to someone or some place? Take some time now to pray for the same courage, patience, and strength that Jesus showed.