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2004-04-09 - Judas
The Lenten Characters Series, Part 5
Matthew 27:1-4a Now when morning came, all the chief
priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to
put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him
to Pilate the governor. Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He
had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver
to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent
blood."
Many of us distance ourselves from Judas. Even people who are not
Biblically-literate know that to be called a "Judas" is a searing insult.
After all, we wouldn't sell out Jesus. We wouldn't betray him like that.
Or would we?
When a friend makes a joke about a person who is mentally challenged or doesn't
dress fashionably, calls him a "dork" etc., do you laugh along? If so, you
have betrayed Christ, for that person someone precious for whom He died on
the Cross. If we make fun of or otherwise hurt these people, we are making
fun of our Lord or hurting Him. (See Matthew 25:40.)
Are you using your gifts to serve other people? If not, you have betrayed
Christ - for you have failed to fulfill His plan for you. Your abilities
and traits are given to you for the purpose of building up His body. (See
Romans 12:1-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.)
Are you doing your part to assist the poor, whether giving through your church
(which can be a good way of ensuring accountability), working in a soup kitchen,
giving cans to a food pantry or whatever? If not, you are betraying Christ,
for He told us to help "the least of these." (See Proverbs 19:17.)
Do you try harder all the time, to obey Christ? If not, you are betraying
Him. For our eternal salvation was bought at an immense price, through His
suffering in our places - and He deserves our complete allegiance. Whatever
one thinks of Mel Gibson, his movie has certainly led many people to better
appreciate what Christ did for them.
Are you legalistic, judging people for infractions of rules that are not
in the Bible? Do you insist that people only play certain kinds of music
in church, in spite of the Biblical message (even though "Amazing Grace"
and other now-traditional hymns were originally sung to bar tunes)? If so,
you are betraying Christ (see Matthew 15:1-9).
At one time or another, we all betray our Lord, even the best of us. Ask
God to reveal to you any ways that you are betraying Him, and to help you
live more as He wants you to.
Comments or Questions,
Jan
cfdevcfpray@yahoo.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org |
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