What I Have Written

Daily Reading: John 19

What I have written I have written. (John 19.22)

Devotional Thought:  Having accomplished their hateful purpose, the Jewish leaders were not satisfied.  When they saw the inscription that Pilate put on the cross, they objected: "Do not write "The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."  To that, Pilate responded, "What I have written, I have written."  Pilate had made a decision about Jesus.  It was written for all to see.  He was either unwilling (too proud) or unable (too weak) to change it.

The same is true for everyone.  When we reach the end of our lives, the decision that we make about Jesus will be set for eternity.  What we have written in this life will stand.  We will be unable to change it for eternity.

Have you ever thought about what you would like to have written on your tombstone?  Once when I was very, very sick with the flu, I remember thinking (I have a strange mind…), "I think I’ll have this put on my tombstone: 'I told you I was sick!'"  Now that I’m feeling better, I really don’t care what is written on my tombstone.  But, I do care about what my life is recording about Jesus Christ.  I only hope that I will be able to live my life in such a way that people will know that my King is Jesus Christ!

In the book of Revelation, John records this truth another way: "Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy" (Rev. 22.11).  Let each of us write our annals in such a way that we will be able to say, with no regrets: “What I have written, I have written.”

Prayer: Jesus, thank you that your blood has erased my sins.  Help me to live in righteousness and holiness so that others may read my life and see that you are my King!  What I have written, I have written!

Psalm of the Day: 38.9-16

9 O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.

10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes--it also has gone from me.

11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.

12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.

13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.

14 I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

15 But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

16 For I said, "Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!"