1 Samuel 10:26-27
26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.
Matthew 20:17-19
17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
Following God does not mean that others will always accept you as Saul found out. Not all were thrilled when he became king. The same was true for Jesus. On Sunday we will celebrate his riding into Jerusalem and being proclaimed king of the Jews by the crowd. But not all are thrilled as we will find out as Holy Week unfolds. Jesus and the disciples knew already that turning to Jerusalem would lead them to opposition and ultimately for Jesus, his death.
Spirit, inspire us by Jesus’ example to follow your leading, even if we know that will cause us trouble or to lose popularity. Your approval is the one that counts.
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