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Sample PackLoud Voices and Lasting Choices
From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” — John 19:12
Pilate faced a major decision: do what was right or cave to the people.
This situation reminds us that we never outgrow peer pressure and the call of the crowd. Sometimes, this pressure teeters on the edge of decisions that will affect us forever.
In our era, news media and social media dominate. Their platforms and influencers demand our attention by showing us what we want to see and telling us what we want to hear because it grabs our attention. Sometimes it's a stunning picture; other times, it's an angry rant. These "loud voices" draw us in, keeping us hooked to scrolling, reacting, and sharing.
We can easily be swayed by these sights and sounds. Like Pilate, we are attracted to these loud voices, often because they echo what we want to hear. There are times we might question them but feel trapped, mistakenly believing that the volume of noise equates to correctness. We then become embroiled in drama, anger, and division because that's what garners the most attention — leading to even more drama, anger, and division.
The real danger lies in allowing these loud voices to dictate our beliefs and push us into wrongful actions. Just as Pilate felt cornered and pressured, we might experience the same feeling when surrounded by extreme opinions and views. So if you find yourself wrapped up in today's drama, anger, and division, take a moment to pause. Return to the truth. Think biblically and critically, and resist allowing the loudest voices to make decisions for you. Remember Pilate's decision and how it's recalled today – he's not remembered fondly for it.
ASK THIS:
In what situations have you felt swayed by the "loud voices" of media or peer pressure, and how did you respond?
How can you cultivate a habit of pausing and critically assessing the information or pressures around you, ensuring you align with biblical truths and your personal values?
DO THIS: Think biblically and don't cave to those "loudest voices."
PRAY THIS: Lord, guide my heart to discern the loud voices around me and grant me the strength to stand firm in Your truth. Help me to always seek wisdom and clarity in my decisions, reflecting Your love and purpose in all that I do. Amen.
PLAY THIS: He Will Hold Me Fast.
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Thanks for the message brother Vince.
I believe the more we walk with Jesus, the louder His soft and gentle voice is in our hearts.
As to the whole Pilate’s decision and the why he did and listen to the pressures of the crowd… well I’m not going to lose sleep over it… or I will question all other decision in the Bible back to the Garden… I will focus on my walk with the Lord of all and I pray His voice is louder in my heart each day He gives to me.
Amen, totally agree!
Was not the decision which Pilate made what God had planned all along? If he didn’t who would have been there to fullfed the prophecy of Jesus being crucified? I like your point but confused by its questions being asked. I understand and agree that needn’t allow peer pressure to make our decisions under any circumstances.
We need to do what is right by God.
Help me understand your thinking here because I’m confused by your teaching.
Yes Rueben, but like I said to @DanG you might be inferring too much into the text at this moment. Don’t read theology into the text read it out from the text and let the text speak. Remember you see the whole picture. Pilate did not. So he was doing what he wanted to do thinking God was uninvolved. Also, keep in mind, no one saw God’s sovereignty at this moment — other than Jesus. John only sees it and writes about in hindsight. Try to stay a little “closer” to the text for a bit.
Understood, sometimes it’s hard to look at the whole picture.
Yes my faithful brother. Sometimes we forget when we are reading the Bible we know the end game and therefore we read theology into the bible rather than out of it.
In our lives this is always hard to determine. We believe God acts in a certain way when we go through the experience, but it is usually only after we really “see” his sovereignty. I believe Pilate “got it” later! He played right into Jesus’s hands.
While Pilot’s decision was strongly influences by the pressures around him, was not Pilot’s decision ultimately guided by God’s sovereignty? What would happened if Pilot had freed Jesus? Would the prophecies about Jesus death still have been fulfilled? Let’s not forget that sometimes God allows decisions to be made that seem wrong at the time, but are necessary to fulfill God’s ultimate plan.
Dan, I don’t disagree, but remember the text clear says “he was even more afraid.” And we all know he was not afraid of God. Just because he is afraid of the crowd does not infer at all that he was operating from God’s sovereignty. Just be careful about your eisegesis here.
Lord help me to stay in tune with Your still, quiet voice and lead me in Your truth and righteousness. I want to know You more and more each day. Amen!!!
Thank you Brother Vince!