Monday, September 15, 2014

Whose Report Will You Believe?

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”
Luke 6:12-16
 
 
Traitors are made, not born.
What a frightening thought to have a legacy as a traitor.
Judas was one of the twelve chosen by Jesus as an apostle.
But just as Jesus chose, so too did Judas.
I don’t think Judas woke up one morning and said: “I’m going to be a traitor.”
Then how did it happen?
Walking beside Jesus, in the very shadow of the Son of God, how does one become a traitor?
Could it be as simple as who we have ears to hear?
Who we listen to?
Have you ever been in someone’s company as they spoke but not really listening to what they were saying?
Maybe you heard them but it was not accompanied by understanding.
I think, over time, Judas developed a listening ear.
But there was a problem because he was listening to the wrong person.
Jesus not only spoke the truth, He was the Truth.
Every word He spoke was truth.
The devil is a deceiver.
He is a liar.
I believe Judas, even while in the company of Jesus, began to believe the lies of the enemy instead of the truth.
It was a process.
When we consider this possibility it should reinforce for each of us the importance of meditating on, and living in the Truth.
We need not fear the enemy when we submit ourselves to God and His Truth.
But it is not a ‘once and done’ deal.
It too is a process.
Believe God’s promises concerning you and not the enemy’s lies.
 

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