Friday, May 1, 2009

May 2, 2009

This morning I am hanging out in Luke 22, especially the first six verses:

“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.”

Here we see recorded the most despicable deed ever perpetrated by a Christ follower. We wonder how Judas could do such a thing?

As I was considering that question this thought crossed my mind, Judas sold out Jesus because he didn’t sell out to Jesus.

He didn’t have an excuse. He had followed Jesus for three years and had seen the miracles, heard the parables, listened to the teachings, and knew well the demands of discipleship. He counted the cost of selling out to Jesus, but he preferred to sell Jesus out.

People who refuse to pay the price always have a price. Satan is well aware of that. He knows that followers who haven’t completely bought into Jesus can be bought off.

I have heard cynical people confidently proclaim that, “Everybody has a price.” They believe that personal convictions are negotiable and will be traded to the highest bidder.

I did some research on the value of those 30 of silver that Judas received for betraying Jesus. The estimate I found was $19.20. Even factoring in today’s inflation, that still isn’t much money to gain by betraying the Son of God. Of course, what amount would be?

What’s your price? How many times have you sold Him out?

So, what brought Judas to the point of selling out Jesus? What kept him from being sold out?

He had the wrong agenda. Judas’ agenda for following Jesus was “What’s in it for me?” Jesus said, “If any man will come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross….” Jesus called Judas to sacrificial service, but Judas was self-serving.

Sold out Christ followers are not self-serving. They serve sacrificially. Which are you?

He had the wrong attitude. Jesus calls His followers to humility. Judas was looking for honor. When Jesus began to lose His popularity, following Jesus began to lose its status. When the tide of public opinion began to turn against Jesus, so did Judas.

Sold out followers of Christ are committed to honoring Him with a humble spirit. Is that your attitude?

He had the wrong affection. God calls us to love Him with all our hearts and love our neighbor as ourselves. Judas demonstrated that he loved himself most when he sold out Jesus and, in fact, the other disciples.

Sold out followers love Christ more than they love their own lives. Judas didn’t. Do you?

Judas proves the point of this devotional. If you are not sold out you will sell out.

Selling out means that we surrender to Jesus’ agenda of sacrificial service. Serve God by serving others,

Selling out means that humble we ourselves in order to honor Him. Judas fell victim to his pride. So will you.

Selling out means loving God with all our hearts. If you don’t love Him above all, you don’t love Him at all.

Jesus paid the price for you! Are you willing to sell out to Him? Will you do that today?

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