Scripture Post #805: *COWARDLY*

John 12:

42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Disclaimer: The image used for this Scripture Post, in its original form, was from an image search engine. It is not an image of my own. 

The Pharisees that are mentioned in John 12:42-43 despised JESUS. (For it was the Pharisees who had the Romans to crucify JESUS.) But many of the Chief Rulers believed on HIM. "…But because of the Pharisees they did not confess him…" They *COWARDLY* allowed the Pharisees to keep them from confessing JESUS as LORD. The Chief Rulers who believed on JESUS would've lost their positions and would've been "…put out of the synagogue…" had they openly confessed JESUS as LORD. But in allowing the Pharisees to keep them from doing what they truly wanted to do, they showed inauthenticity. How often do we as believers display inauthenticity, by desiring in our hearts to please GOD, but please men instead out of cowardice? Should the praise of men override the praise of GOD? Are we more concerned with what people think of us, than what GOD thinks of us?

Refuse to be a coward—be what GOD calls you to be. 

Originally Published: Wed. 11/26/14