Matthew 27:13-14 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
Pilate is amazed and moved when Jesus does not answer the accusations of the religious leaders. Let me take a moment to encourage you in something … let God be your defense and by extension … You don’t have to have the last word. There is a time for self defense, but those times are rare.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a ninja and I managed to save up enough money to buy a real ninja outfit. I even bought books with pictures of secret Ninja moves. Now, maybe I’ve perfected those Ninja moves and maybe, just maybe, I am adept at those ninja moves today (or maybe not) but it really doesn’t matter because my God is bigger than anything or anyone that could ever come up against me.
When we rise to our own defense, we usually discover we’d have been better off staying silent and trusting God to defend us.
Proverbs 18:10-11 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.
… Yet how many of us would instead run to something else or someone else for our defense? Often we run to excuses or stories. The strongest defense you can have is God. Not Money, Not a Job, Not your Ego, Not a war of words, not a college degree or an association, not weapons … not even a ninja.
Maybe you remember reading in 1 Samuel about God’s anointed future king, David who was forced into hiding from king Saul who wanted him dead. David had several opportunities to take Saul’s life, yet He did not. One time, David was hiding in the caves of En Gedi when Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. David could have taken Saul’s life, but instead he managed to cut a tassel (tzit-tzit) off the corner of Saul’s clothes to prove to Saul that he could have taken his life. On another occasion, in 1 Samuel 26, David snuck into Saul’s camp while they were sleeping and took Saul’s own spear and water jug. David was content to let God be his defense, refusing to raise his own hand against the man God had once chosen to be the king of Israel.
1 Samuel 26:23-24 The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one. Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.”
David certainly had every right to take Saul’s life and claim the throne. God had anointed David to take the place of Saul and Saul had come after David with a force of 3000 men. Yet David knew that God had it all under control and it was for God to remove Saul, not for David to do. Whatever is going on in your life, know that God has it under control. You don’t need a ninja. You don’t need an excuse. All you need is God, Who is mighty in power and strong to save.
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