Devotional
April 8
Unfaithful Negotiations
“Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean.” Matthew 23:25-26
One of the lowest - if not the lowest - ways of fighting against truth in order to get one’s way is betrayal. This old trick is a death sentence – not to the one who is betrayed – but to the betrayer. Have you ever experienced betrayal? Cuts deep in the gut, doesn’t it? What hurts most is when someone close to you does it and shows no sign of remorse. Jesus was aware of his betrayer – Judas Iscariot – even before Judas knew he would betray the Savior. You would think that the time Judas spent with Jesus would have altered that outcome, but it didn’t. Just like the time you invested in your friends…how could they turn on you like they did? It is a matter of the heart and Who occupies it. Judas’ betrayal of Jesus is not what caused Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus died intentionally for our sake. Judas’ unfaithful negotiations boomeranged on him, causing truth to pierce his heart with unbearable guilt…and he hung himself. We must walk in faith before, during, and long after we have been wronged by someone. We can trust that the Lord knows all about it, and He has an appointed time when He will reckon it. It is to our advantage to forgive so that the Light within us may continue to shine in this dark world.
Unfaithful Negotiations
“Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean.” Matthew 23:25-26
One of the lowest - if not the lowest - ways of fighting against truth in order to get one’s way is betrayal. This old trick is a death sentence – not to the one who is betrayed – but to the betrayer. Have you ever experienced betrayal? Cuts deep in the gut, doesn’t it? What hurts most is when someone close to you does it and shows no sign of remorse. Jesus was aware of his betrayer – Judas Iscariot – even before Judas knew he would betray the Savior. You would think that the time Judas spent with Jesus would have altered that outcome, but it didn’t. Just like the time you invested in your friends…how could they turn on you like they did? It is a matter of the heart and Who occupies it. Judas’ betrayal of Jesus is not what caused Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus died intentionally for our sake. Judas’ unfaithful negotiations boomeranged on him, causing truth to pierce his heart with unbearable guilt…and he hung himself. We must walk in faith before, during, and long after we have been wronged by someone. We can trust that the Lord knows all about it, and He has an appointed time when He will reckon it. It is to our advantage to forgive so that the Light within us may continue to shine in this dark world.
Recent
Archive
2024
2023
January
February
Categories
no categories
No Comments