John chapter 18 describes Jesus' arrest and trial, such as it was, before Pontius Pilate. In verse 39, Pilate offers to release Jesus as part of a Passover tradition, to which the crowd famously replies, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!"
I was reading this passage today and noticed something I had never thought about before.
Sometimes I choose Barabbas.
In the depths of my heart, in the flesh that is cursed to live out this tentative existence, in my old self, I shake my fist defiantly not at a Roman governor, but at God Himself and scream with all the wrath I can muster, "GIVE ME BARABBAS!"
This truth slapped me across the face as I read; every time I choose my way instead of His, every moment I spend in disobedience, each minute devoted to prideful, self-absorbed rebellion, I cry out "Give me BARABBAS!"
It's no coincidence that Barabbas was imprisoned for leading a rebellion; in my mind, he will forever more be it's poster boy.
So this morning, I pray, "Father, give me a heart to obey You; a heart that seeks to know and do Your will above all else, as Christ did. May You be glorified by my words, deeds, actions; by my life itself.
Think about it: are you calling for Barabbas' release in your heart right now, at this moment? How do you need to turn away from sin today? I pray that God will reveal it to you and give you resolve to obey Him, by faith.
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