A Moral Dilemma

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Our Guest Pastor Jerry ministered from Mark 6: 14-29 about the violent and gruesome recounting of the death of John the Baptist.   I share my gleanings from his sermon.

King Herod respected John even though the message that John gave was not so welcomed.  John told Herod that it was not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife.  These words caused Herod’s wife Herodias to be very angry and she wanted to kill John the Baptist.  Possibly to protect John from his wife, Herod had John put into prison?

On his birthday, Herod decided to throw an extravagant party, and when his step daughter danced for them, everyone was very pleased.  Herod told her that he would offer her a gift and to ask whatever she willed and he would give it to her. 

Have you ever made a rash statement, and then wished you had not declared it?

Herod found him self in a quandary when the girl at her mothers request, asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.  Herod had made an impulsive and stupid promise and there was no backing out.  His lords, high captains and other guests had all heard him make this pledge.  The king was deeply grieved, but he was obligated to keep his word.

There was nothing else he could do, so immediately he sent for his executioner and gave the hideous command which was soon fulfilled.

While this is a disgusting, unpleasant story and we are glad it doesn’t happen here in America, the truth is that similar happenings are occurring all over our current world.

Men without conscience are killing Christians and burning churches many like Saul of Tarsus, believe they are doing God’s work.

Have you ever done something or said something that was foolish and unwise?

We have all been there, making wrong choices.  We may not have killed anyone physically but perhaps in some way we may have caused harm to someone’s character by our actions or words.

We don’t like to reveal our weaknesses for we do not want others to think less of us.

So what do we do?  We lie, cover up, and conceal our sins and errors.

What can we learn today?  Perhaps we all need to gather at the feet of Jesus bringing our failures to him where there is Salvation and always grace mercy and forgiveness.

This post is shared with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays

Also linked with Michelle’s Hear it on Sunday Use it on Monday