Mat 27:19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: "Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about Him last night."

Giving in to what the popular majority wants is not always right. Here are two unsaved, unholy individuals who are both worshipers of Caesar, standing in front of hundreds of unsaved, unholy followers of Jehovah God. Both Pilate and his wife wanted nothing to really do with this man Jesus, whom the Jews had brought before Pilate for judgment for a crime that Pilate really had no business judging in the first place. Pilate sat there listening to the accusations against Jesus when along comes his wife to talk to him. She had to tell him she had a nightmare about this innocent man and told Pilate not to have anything to do with it. Pilate, being the man that he was, played his part to the utmost perfection by partially listening to his wife. He had a bowl of water brought to him and symbolically washed his hands of the whole thing, but he stopped nothing. He had them take Jesus out and beat him then turned him over to the crowd telling them to do what they wanted to do with him. Now why do you suppose he did that? He could have set Jesus free, He could have told the Jewish leaders to go take a hike but no, he told them do what they wanted. I don't really think he washed his hands of anything. I think he added more judgment to himself by trying to do what the popular majority wanted him to do.

Giving in to what is popular is not the right way to live your life for Christ. But how often do we give ourselves to what is popular or what every one else is doing rather than getting the mind of Christ and doing His will. Every one of us is insecure to one point or another. Everybody wants to have friends but do we give in to popularity more than we give in to Christ? I know that what I am saying is repetitious but are we more worried about keeping up appearances to man than God. 1 Corinthians 6:20 tells us God payed a high price for us.1 Corinthians 7:23 he goes on and tells us since he did pay that high price for us, we shouldn't be enslaved to the world. It feels great to get the pats on the back from all the guys for doing one of the “big” guy things. It looks good on your life resume that you did this and that. But wouldn't it be better to hear, Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Isn't God good? We all need to desire entering into Gods joy rather than the pat on the back from someone you gave into because it was the popular thing to do.

We can get caught up in the Brad and Angelina syndrome. Here are two of the most popular people in the world. Ambassador, Mother and father to I don't know how many adopted kids, always up front with their lives. Every one wants to be just like them. Their works are great. But they are missing one ingredient, Jesus. They are not married, living in open sin, not caring what anyone thinks including God. So what is their reward? They get a lot of pats on the back but they deny Christ and unless they repent and get it right with Him I don't believe they will receive a well done good and faithful servant, enter into my rest. What seems great and glorious may not be as good as it looks. I am not picking on Brad or Angelina but I am trying to open blind eyes to see Gods word and what would be right in His eyes for you or me to do. Matthew 6:1 "Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. Good deeds and doing what is right can get you places in this world. But when they are done right, for Christ, they can get you even greater places in the kingdom of God. Remember, God is the most popular person in the universe. You want to impress someone, impress Him by doing what is right.