Today's Devotional

 

November 29, 2007

                                                                                  

Subject:   Smart Like Jesus   

John 2:24 - 25 "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." 

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In a rather interesting exchange in last night's Republican Presidential debate, a question was asked of candidates concerning the death penalty.  It was simply summed up as "what would Jesus do?"  After a couple of the candidates went back and forth, the question reached my personal favorite, the former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee.  He talked for a minute about how tough a decision it is to take a life, but he believed that some crimes are so heinous that death could be the only reasonable remedy.  Finally, the commentator repeated the bottom line question to Gov. Huckabee by saying, "the question is what would Jesus do?"  Huckabee responded, "Jesus was too smart to run for public office."  That was probably the best answer of the night and in fact I believe the scriptural passage above explains why.  

Jesus knew what His mission and purpose was here on earth and He wasn't trying to get votes from people.  He knew that some would follow Him and feign their support, while actively plotting against Him and He knew that some would truly be loyal.  None of that mattered to Him though, because He knew what He was here for.  That's what made Jesus smart.  That can make us smart too.

Once again I'm not here to "testify of man," but I was talking about how reasoned and straightforward Gov. Huckabee's answers always seem to be and my wife said, "that's because he's saying exactly what he believes."  How liberating.

Today as believers, we must know our mission and purpose, live by those principles and not play to man.  If we do so, we will be wise.  That's what makes us "Smart Like Jesus."

Carlen