Joanne Sher: Editor/Proofreader : In His Name: Monday Manna

35k in 28 days (finished yesterday - watch for an update/goals tomorrow)

21175 / 35000 words. 61% done!

Welcome to Monday Manna. The purpose of this meme is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. On the first and third Monday of each month, anyone who wishes can post their thoughts on a verse I introduced at my blog the Thursday before. It doesn't have to be a long post -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional.

Anyone is welcome to participate. Just put a link to your Monday Manna blog entry in the MckLinky gadget below, and check out others' thoughts.

This Monday's verse is a familiar one, though one, I must admit, I've never really pondered until this weekend.

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,"Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Mark 11:9 NIV

Looking forward to reading your thoughts. Mine are below.

**

He was surrounded. Wherever He or His disciples looked, they were there. The multitude, shouting praise and blessing to Him. If He needed encouragement, there it was. If He was feeling like nobody was taking Him seriously, all he needed to do was look around and see these people - creating a lovely path for him to ride on, and singing his praises.

It could have been the ultimate self-esteem boost. Most of us could have lived on those kinds of accolades for months.

But if He had, He would have been looking to the wrong place for His encouragement. And He might not have gone to the cross.

On that day, Jesus had lots of "fans." The people, the multitudes, were on his side. They were ready to make Him king. The people before Him were cheering Him on. It wouldn't have taken much to keep those people on His side - to develop a regular following to boost Him into power.

But if He had, He would have been looking to the wrong place for His power. And He might not have gone to the cross.

The people, at that point, likely would have done just about anything He asked. He could have led a successful rebellion against the Romans and given them the temporal freedom they were hoping for.

But if He had, He would have been seeking the wrong kind of Freedom for His people. And He might not have gone to the cross.

And I wonder--how often do I allow the will of the crowd, the boost to my self-esteem, the love of attention, my belief in my own strength, to control my actions? And how often has this caused me to avoid going to the cross? How often have I put myself and my desires over God's perfect plan and will?

**

Thanks for reading! Be sure to link up below, and read the other contributions to Monday Manna.