Don't be Fickle!
Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9
Indeed! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Palm Sunday is a bittersweet day for me. Every time I read these words my spirit rises within me and I find great joy, victory and freedom. God in all His goodness has provided His sweet, perfect and complete victory through Jesus. When in the presence of this victory all one can really do is stand in awe and praise and shout:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”
Yet, the fickleness of mankind is grave. One moment these people are shouting praise and words of commitment and loyalty to the mighty Son of God, and five days later they are shouting for His demise, His death and His torturous crucifixion. It is the tragedy of tragedies. It breaks my heart, and I am sure it breaks God's heart as well. The fact about history is that nothing is new under the sun. Mankind is still as fickle today as they were 2000 years ago. Many behave in the same way as these Israelites did on Palm Sunday when Jesus was riding through town. One moment they are shouting God’s praise and speaking words of loyalty to the Almighty God, and the next moment they are blaming God for some great tragedy that has occurred in their lives. Others choose to listen to misleading and deceptive words and ready themselves to turn their back on God.
Nevertheless, hear these words. Hardships is not a reason to betray God, and misunderstandings or deceitful words are not a reason to deny Jesus. Rejecting Jesus only makes a bad situation worse, and you are the one who will suffer for it. Satan will laugh in your face. Because, after all, that is Satan’s desire. He wants you to turn your back on God. He wants you to lose all hope. He wants you to be defeated, and having you defeat yourself is one of Satan’s greatest victories.
Take courage, stand up and do not give Satan the satisfaction! Turn your back on the deceptive words that would lure you away from your loving and gracious God. Cling to the truth that is within you that will save you. Run to God and do not turn away and, the Grace of God will sustain you and strengthen you in your trouble and doubt and for all the days to come.
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
