Tag Archives: Judas

Nov 18

What Will You Give Me?

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Photo Credit: Victor1558 via cc

I once asked one of the little kids at church to do me a favor. I just needed her to walk across the auditorium and tell someone not to leave before I had the chance to talk with him. I was tied up talking to someone else at the moment, but I really needed to talk to this other person as well. What happened next caught me off guard. She looked at me and asked, “What will you give me?” This little girl was willing to do whatever I asked as long as she got something in return.

Before Judas ever betrayed Jesus, he went to the chief priests and asked them, “What will you give me if I deliver him (Jesus) over to you?” (Matt. 26:15). Judas did not betray Jesus for no reason at all. He betrayed Jesus to get something in return.

It is easy for us to look at Judas and think, “What was he thinking? How could he betray his friend and Lord?” We are even so bold to think we would never do what Judas did; we would never betray Jesus for something like silver. However, I’m afraid we have more in common with Judas than we realize. While we might not betray Jesus for a certain sum of money, we betray Him in other ways.

Every day we wake up Satan comes after us with some type of sweet looking deal. He promises to give us happiness, fame, pleasure, riches, popularity or acceptance if we will just betray Jesus and bow down to the devil and his ways. Sadly, many of us do this without even realizing what we are doing. We give up a faithful and obedient relationship with Jesus just so we can enjoy whatever Satan and the world are offering us at that moment.

Friends, as we go throughout our daily lives, be careful about betraying Jesus for the mortal things around us. Let’s not stop and ask, “What will you give me?” because things of the world are never truly worth it in the end…just ask Judas.

Now that’s Something to Think About!

 

 

 

 

Oct 19

One Big Mistake…

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What do Benedict Arnold, Tiger Woods, Jephthah, Judas, Thomas and Peter all have in common? Each of these men are remembered for one BIG mistake. Benedict Arnold had a successful military career but is remembered for his treason. Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers to ever play but is remembered for his repeated acts of adultery. Jephthah was a great leader in Israel who is mentioned in the Hall of Faith in the book of Hebrews, but he is remembered for the tragic vow he made before God. Judas was an apostle of Jesus who carried the disciples’ money bag but is remembered for his kiss of betrayal. Thomas went outside the Roman empire and helped convert thousands to Christ but is remembered for his doubting the resurrection. Peter preached the first Gospel sermon but is remembered for his denial of Jesus.

In spite of the fact that each of these men had more successes than failures, they are remembered for one BIG mistake. People don’t reflect on all the good they did, only their brief moments of weakness. What if no matter how much good we do, others only remember our failures and moments of weaknesses? What if after we’ve passed from this life, all people can say about us centers around our mistakes?

Friends, let’s be careful to live our lives in such a God-honoring way that when others go to speak evil of us, they have nothing to say because we are remembered for the good and not for the mistakes we made. This doesn’t mean we will be perfect and never mess up, it just means our God-honoring life will outweigh our mistakes and failures.

“For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” (2 Cor 8:21)

“That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”  (Phil. 2:15)

Now that’s Something to Think About!