What Would You Be?

What Would You Be?

Job replied to the LORD:“I know that you can do anything,and no one can stop you.”

Job 42:1-2

Theodore Roosevelt was making a political speech during one of his campaigns, when a heckler from the large crowd interrupted him with a repeated and slightly inebriated cry, “I am a Democrat!”

Mr. Roosevelt was generally a dangerous man to heckle. Pausing in his speech and smiling with unction, he leaned forward and said, “May I ask the gentleman why he is a Democrat?”

The voice replied, “My grandfather was a Democrat, my father was a Democrat, and I am a Democrat.”

Roosevelt said, “My friend, suppose your grandfather had been a horse thief, and your father had been a horse thief, what would you be?”

Instantly the reply came back, “A Republican!”

What can you say? Politics is a crazy business, and only the strong can survive.

In a similar way, during Jesus’ volatile ministry his political enemies—the Pharisees, Sadducees, and others—heckled him. They posed tricky questions to him. They threatened him. They challenged him at every turn until, finally, when they could not make him look bad through their vocal attacks, they had him murdered.

In truth, they killed him out of jealousy and fear. His runaway popularity among the people and his declaration that he was, in fact, the Son of God terrified them, and the only way they could deal with it was to have him killed. Little did they know that Jesus’ death was the astounding finale to the symphonic plan God had been conducting for hundreds of years to save . . . you and me. It was his plan all along, and his plans cannot be thwarted. Hallelujah!

O Lord, my Savior, I am so humbled by your sacrifice for me. I want to live my life in service to others out of gratitude to you. Thank you. Amen.