“Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas
Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me
if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of
silver. From then on Judas watched for
an opportunity to hand him over.”
Matthew 26:14-16
We were asked a pretty tough question one Sunday
morning that went something like this:
“What would it take for you to walk away from your
relationship with Jesus?”
In other words we ask the question that Judas asked:
“What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to
you?”
Don’t be so quick to answer. You say: “I would never
do that!”
Peter said he would never deny him and yet we all know
the results of that commitment.
Peter denied him, Judas betrayed him and most of the
disciples scattered when he was arrested. It is easy to talk big when you have
not been challenged face-to-face as some of the Apostles were. I would like to
believe I am a better man than Judas but I find an admonition in scripture that
reminds me to be careful when it comes to these things. It is in Galatians
chapter six and verse one: “Brothers and
sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should
restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”
Did you see the audience?
It is to “Brothers and sisters…”.
That would be you and me.
But, it goes even further when it says: “…you who live
by the Spirit…” It sure sounds to me like he is not only addressing believers
but in fact he is addressing mature believers. Even this audience receives the
warning: “…But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” We need to remind
ourselves that we are never beyond temptation, especially if and when we find
ourselves ministering to one who has struggled with a particular sin. It is
often at that point that, if we are not careful, pride can creep in and cause
us to believe we are better than the one who stumbled and are able, in our own
strength, to withstand what they were not able to resist.
We are not left comfortless and the strength of the
Holy Spirit is there to help us in those times of temptation. But His help is
quenched when we think more highly of ourselves and our own strength than we
ought to think and rely on that rather than Him!
Instead of being quick to respond to the question of:
“What would it take for you to walk away from your relationship with Jesus”
stop and think for a moment of how much you need the Holy Spirit to keep you in
that place of abiding in Christ and instead of boasting, pray that you would
continue to abide in Him.
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