Loving the Judas in Your Life
"Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked." Luke 6:35
Do you find it difficult to be kind to evil people? Often I do. Yet, this passage of Scripture tells us that is exactly what God wants us to do. What about those people who claim to be Christian, yet the life they live is anything BUT Christian?
I am reminded of Christ's example with regard to Judas Iscariot--one of the twelve. Judas was keeper of the money for Jesus and His disciples. But, Judas was known to dip into the till whenever he cared to. He was a traitor, betraying Christ to be crucified on a cross for your sins and mine. And, Jesus knew that Judas was a wicked man. John 6:70-71 tells us, "Then Jesus said, 'I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.' He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him."
I have often wondered just how Jesus could stand to be with Judas, a man He knew to be a devil. Yet, the love that Christ shared left Judas without excuse. There was no reason whatsoever for Judas to reject Christ.
But, that is exactly what he did.
Perhaps you have a Judas in your life. You've prayed repeatedly for the situation to change, the person's heart to change; or, you may have prayed for the person to be removed from your immediate sphere of influence, your circle. Consider that God may have placed this Judas in your life in order that they may be without excuse. Love them as Christ loved Judas. God doesn't waste anything. He is probably refining you in the process, too.
And, never stop praying. They may yet come to Him.
Do you find it difficult to be kind to evil people? Often I do. Yet, this passage of Scripture tells us that is exactly what God wants us to do. What about those people who claim to be Christian, yet the life they live is anything BUT Christian?
I am reminded of Christ's example with regard to Judas Iscariot--one of the twelve. Judas was keeper of the money for Jesus and His disciples. But, Judas was known to dip into the till whenever he cared to. He was a traitor, betraying Christ to be crucified on a cross for your sins and mine. And, Jesus knew that Judas was a wicked man. John 6:70-71 tells us, "Then Jesus said, 'I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.' He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him."
I have often wondered just how Jesus could stand to be with Judas, a man He knew to be a devil. Yet, the love that Christ shared left Judas without excuse. There was no reason whatsoever for Judas to reject Christ.
But, that is exactly what he did.
Perhaps you have a Judas in your life. You've prayed repeatedly for the situation to change, the person's heart to change; or, you may have prayed for the person to be removed from your immediate sphere of influence, your circle. Consider that God may have placed this Judas in your life in order that they may be without excuse. Love them as Christ loved Judas. God doesn't waste anything. He is probably refining you in the process, too.
And, never stop praying. They may yet come to Him.
Comments
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