Betrayal
Loyalty is an admirable quality, while betrayal is a scourge upon anyone's reputation. Judas Iscariot is well known for his betrayal of Jesus. We studied Luke 22:1-6 at our Men's Bible study. We had a very serious discussion about how one of Jesus' disciples could betray Jesus and become possessed by Satan himself. We would all do well to consider the life of Judas.
Even though Jesus chose him as a disciple, and he was with Jesus for over three years, he never trusted Christ as the Messiah. He continuously stole money out of the disciples funds for himself. Finally, he decided Jesus was not going to take over the government, so that he might be vaulted into a position of power, so he agreed to betray Jesus to the Rulers of the Jews for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave. In his pride and greed Judas completely turned from the Lord and opened himself to Satan by his rebellion and selfishness. Satan walked into his life, and led him to his death. All of this was Judas' choice. He chose to reject the Son of God and to open himself to Satan. What a tragedy!
This tragedy repeats itself every day in many places around the globe. A husband betrays his wife for drugs or another woman. A wife betrays her husband for another man, because the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence. A young person or an adult rebels against his or her upbringing and decides to seek satisfaction from drugs or alcohol. A businessman sells himself to greed and forsakes the commands of the Lord for life. In each case there is that opening for Satan to come in and ,at the very least, have strong influence in that life. Betrayal takes many forms and causes much destruction.
We must guard against pride, greed, selfishness, or any other sin that leads us away from being loyal to the truth of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't want to end up like Judas. He had every opportunity to trust in Jesus as Lord, but He chose to go the other way.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 14-16.
Even though Jesus chose him as a disciple, and he was with Jesus for over three years, he never trusted Christ as the Messiah. He continuously stole money out of the disciples funds for himself. Finally, he decided Jesus was not going to take over the government, so that he might be vaulted into a position of power, so he agreed to betray Jesus to the Rulers of the Jews for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave. In his pride and greed Judas completely turned from the Lord and opened himself to Satan by his rebellion and selfishness. Satan walked into his life, and led him to his death. All of this was Judas' choice. He chose to reject the Son of God and to open himself to Satan. What a tragedy!
This tragedy repeats itself every day in many places around the globe. A husband betrays his wife for drugs or another woman. A wife betrays her husband for another man, because the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence. A young person or an adult rebels against his or her upbringing and decides to seek satisfaction from drugs or alcohol. A businessman sells himself to greed and forsakes the commands of the Lord for life. In each case there is that opening for Satan to come in and ,at the very least, have strong influence in that life. Betrayal takes many forms and causes much destruction.
We must guard against pride, greed, selfishness, or any other sin that leads us away from being loyal to the truth of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't want to end up like Judas. He had every opportunity to trust in Jesus as Lord, but He chose to go the other way.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 14-16.