By: Juliet Constantine
"Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." (John 12:42-43)
Which is worst: believing without confessing or confession without belief? Belief without confession is stifled and is similarly to secret love. However, confession without belief is deceptive, similarly as pretentious love.
Nicodemus secretly believed in Jesus; but for a time, he did not confess his belief. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin Council. Being one of the Jewish leaders he desired the praise of the people rather than the praise of God. Like so many others of his kind, they were afraid of what people would say or how they would react should the truth be discovered. So they kept their belief to themselves for fear of rejection. But what if they had made know their beliefs, would anything have changed?
The thing with true belief is the same with true love. It cannot be repressed for long because of its force. It takes on life and just keeps bubbling up and out. It must be released. Everyone must know. It’s no longer a choice – it’s a compulsion. The same is true with belief in Jesus Christ. It’s like a love you’ve never known and the compulsion to share it makes you restless. You just cannot shut-up!
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were two such Jewish leaders who could no longer keep silent. Prior to Jesus’ death, Nicodemus belief bubbled out when he questioned the Priest and Pharisees: “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” (John 7:51) And their belief was evident by their actions when Jesus was to be buried. They might have tried to repress their belief in Jesus but eventually, it was shone like the sun and their beliefs were recorded for all to read.
Today, people have so much more in which to place their belief. We have records of past happenings that should serve as a guide; but the ultimate decision is ours to make. We will all be faced with the pointed question: What think ye of Jesus Christ? Our belief will influence our actions. If we truly believe, there will be a definite change in our behavior, not just our words. The opposite is also true. If we deceptively confess belief, our actions will betray us. The fruits we bear will declare whether our belief is genuine or fake.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, but for whatever reason you decide to suppress your belief, think about it carefully. We are cautioned to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But we are also warned that if we fail to confess Jesus, He will fail to confess us to His father. Seek guidance from The Holy Spirit and He will lead you in the way you should go. He will help you to confess that the joy of the Lord is your strength. You will be able to run and skip and praise God for what He has done for you. The blind will hear, the deaf will see and the dumb will rejoice as a result of your positive testimony. Let your belief be seen in your actions just as how it is heard in your words.
Heavenly Father, we believe in You and we place our trust in You. We believe in Jesus and do thank You for His sacrifice to save us. Please help us that our actions will show our deep belief in You. For in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)
