Don’t Be a Judas...

Have you ever wondered why Judas never repented and became a true disciple? I wonder that a lot. As I was reading today, a thought came to me. It doesn’t fully answer that question, but it does give more insight into the problem. Judas’ guilt was unbearable. He took it to heart. When Jesus told the disciples, about the one who would betray Him, it would be far better for that man if he had never been born, I can imagine it destroyed Judas. His pride wouldn’t allow what his heart was telling him not to do. It wasn’t until after the betrayal that he realized this. But it was too late. He couldn’t deal with the guilt and shame that this sin brought about. How often do we do the very same thing. Guilt and shame are part of the sin process. But unlike Judas, we know the outcome if we don’t repent and return to God versus if we do. If you’re dealing with something today, don’t be a Judas and let Satan communicate to your pride, holding you captive with guilt and shame. Instead ask God to forgive you. God always forgives sincerity in repentance. There’s a reason you were born, and it’s far better than your current circumstance.

20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 While they were eating, He said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me.”22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”23 He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with Me will betray Me. 24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays Him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”25 Judas, the one who would betray Him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”And Jesus told Him, “You have said it.” Matthew 26:20-25

People Will Never Succeed...

People will never succeed when they go against God!!! They may get what they want, but it won’t deliver on the promise it made. In the end, those who oppose God will live with regret for all eternity.

11 Although they plot against You,their evil schemes will never succeed. Psalms 21:11

God’s Jealousy...

God will not share His Glory with anyone or anything. The reason there is so much turmoil in the Middle East till this day, is because the Israelites didn’t follow God’s command. They assimilated instead of eliminated the pagans in the Promised land. As it says in Romans 12:2, we are not to conform, but to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. All of this still happens today. When will we ever understand God’s jealousy isn’t the kind of jealousy we think of from a human stand point. He’s jealous for us. Jealous for a relationship with us.

12 “Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped. 13 Instead, you must break down their pagan altars, smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about His relationship with you. Exodus 34:12-14

What Would a Person Say...

I wonder what a person who knows God exists, but refuses to accept His goodness, and claims He is a tyrant, would say about this passage in Exodus 34? What would they say about God’s unfailing love, His faithfulness to do what He says? His willingness to forgive? His unwillingness to excuse the guilty? I know what I would say, “you’re not talking about the God of the Bible”. Obviously, they don’t KNOW what they are talking about.

6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord!The God of compassion and mercy!I am slow to angerand filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.But I do not excuse the guilty.I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;the entire family is affected–even children in the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:6-7

You Must Ask....

A True Seeker: pursuing God takes boldness and persistence. Daily seeking leads to knowing God more intimately. You must ask.

18 Moses responded, “Then show me Your glorious presence.”19 The Lord replied, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will call out My name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. 20 But you may not look directly at My face, for no one may see Me and live.” 21 The Lord continued, “Look, stand near Me on this rock. 22 As My glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove My hand and let you see Me from behind. But My face will not be seen.” Exodus 33:18-23

Let Both Grow Together...

When people ask me, “Why does God allow evil people to live?”, I simple say, “cuz if He didn’t, we all would be dead”. We are all sinners and have the capacity to do evil. Jesus told us the reason, when He told the parable of the wheat and the weeds: “ ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.“ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’ ”. (Matt 13) There are only three kinds of people: blatant rejectors of God, pretenders of God, and those faithful to God. That’s it. Here in Matthew chapter 25, we read of Jesus talking about the final judgement. Here He refers to the latter two kinds of people, the pretenders - goats, and the faithful -sheep. The difference between sheep and goats is, sheep reverence God and treat people as important even when no one is looking. Goats, on the other hand, only pretend when people are looking, putting on a show to make them look good, only to abandon the treatment when no one is around. How often do we act like goats? Ask God today to examine our heart, and help us to make it right with Him. 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33 He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left.34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.35 For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home.36 I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink?38 Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing?39 When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?’40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!’41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me a drink.43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give Me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.’44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You?’45 “And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46

A Simple Thought...

A short, simple thought: God’s presence isour ultimate joy. It’s an eternal blessing we get to experience here on earth and in Heaven. Think about that, allow it to shape your thoughts.

6 You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of Your presence. Psalms 21:6