July 8, 2018

What’s Your Price?

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. – Luke 22:4-5

What would you do for the promise of money or power? Don’t deny that it would ever happen. Most people have a price, the amount of money or the level of prestige, that would cause them to betray those closest to them.

Judas had a price. It was 30 pieces of silver, roughly about $600. Looking back, we see that Judas betrayed the Messiah. We understand that it was planned from the beginning. God had made a way to reconcile us to Him. Judas’ actions fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

But step back for a moment and consider this: Judas betrayed his friend. He handed Jesus over for money. He ignored the three years he had traveled with Jesus and sat at the table with Him. He shoved aside the miracles and the memories. He did it all for money.

So, let me ask you again: What’s your price? Who will you betray for a nice promotion at work? What will you take credit for to get a bonus? How many times will you tell yourself “it’s just business” as you do what you know you shouldn’t in order to elevate your worldly goods and status?

Maybe it’s more about money than position for you. Will you lie to bring in more money? Will you cheat someone? Will you take advantage of someone who trusts you? What’s your price? How much is your family worth? Your friends? Your coworkers?

Many years ago there was a big scandal involving the son of a famous actor. A “friend” sold her story to a television tabloid. She took advantage of his tragedy to put money in her own pocket and give her those 15 minutes of fame she craved. I wonder how much it cost her?

She and I had a mutual friend. He promptly ended the friendship. Who wants to be around someone you can’t trust? I don’t know if anyone else did the same but I suspect that they did. Yes, she got money and fleeting fame. But she lost a great deal too.

Do we ever count the cost? Did Judas understand what those 30 pieces of silver would cost him? He attempted to return the silver. He realized he had betrayed an innocent man and now that man, Jesus, would be crucified. Judas paid with his life, though we don’t know whether it was from hanging (Matthew 27:5) or from a fall (Luke says this in Acts 1:18). Shame for a betrayal that could never be undone.

We like to get lofty when talking about what we will or won’t do. We pretend all is well until the day comes and we are faced with a choice: Do what is right or do what will benefit you financially. The world is littered with people who did all they could to benefit themselves only to have their evil plans derailed. And the world is littered with their victims.

Satan knows each person’s sweet spot. He knows just what it will take to lead you down a path you thought you were above. Never get so cocky as to think he doesn’t know your price. And never get so arrogant to think you won’t fall to temptation. Everyone has a price. What’s yours?

March 25, 2016

Betrayal Hurts

47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” -- Luke 22:47-48

Have you ever been betrayed by someone close to you? It hurts, doesn’t it? Jesus certainly knows about that.

Jesus wasn’t betrayed by a stranger. He wasn’t betrayed by a religious leader threatened by His popularity. Jesus was betrayed by a man who was part of His inner circle. He was betrayed by a friend.

What’s even worse is that Jesus -- knowing everything -- knew it was coming. He knew that Judas would betray Him yet Jesus didn’t cast Judas aside. Instead, Jesus waited until Judas chose to turn on Jesus.

We think we would never do that to Jesus -- but we do. All the time. We deny Him when we choose a different path rather than the path that leads us closer to Him. We betray Jesus when we harden our hearts against the poor, the hurting, the outcast.

Do you still think you wouldn’t betray Jesus? Consider Peter. He loved Jesus. Really. Truly. Yet Peter denied Jesus three times -- just as Jesus predicted that Peter would do. It’s hard to stand firm for Jesus when the court of public opinion ridicules you or threatens your way of life.

It’s also hard to be kind to those who betray you. We must. But it isn’t easy. Have you ever worked with someone who played people off of one another? It seems like every workplace has someone like that. They enjoy stirring things up.

It’s also hard to get past someone who betrays a confidence. We’ve all been on both sides of that grief. The truth is only God is trustworthy when it comes to keeping secrets. Our circle of friends who are truly trustworthy is really quite small. We’d all do well to remember that.

Another type of betrayal is when we expect support from those closest to us and instead they turn on us. A sweet friend just went through this and her heart is broken. She needed support from her sisters and instead they unfairly -- and wrongly -- judged her. Now she has the trauma of all that happened heaped on the betrayal that came with her sisters’ disapproval.

This is Good Friday. Jesus is betrayed and crucified. Betrayed in the most horrible of ways. The resurrection hasn’t yet arrived. Hope seems lost. And, yet, it is not. There is life after the betrayal. Thank you, Jesus.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

We All Betray Jesus

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. -- Luke 22:3-4

Why does betrayal from a friend, a family member, someone loved and trusted, cut so deeply and hurt so badly? There’s something horrible about trusting someone, by allowing them to know your heart, and then having that person turn on you in the worst way.

Jesus knew Judas would betray Him. He knew. And still the Son of Man didn’t lash out at His betrayer. He didn’t badmouth Judas or encourage others to avoid him. He let the truth do to Judas what the truth would do to him. Judas accepted money to betray Jesus and the guilt drove him to suicide.

We look down on Judas. How could he do such a thing? And yet we do it everyday. Yes. That’s right. You and me. We betray Jesus every single day. We really are no better than Judas because we are willing to cast Jesus aside to earn more money, to have more things, to sit mindlessly in front of the television.

We betray Jesus every time we condemn a homeless person. We betray Jesus every time we look down on someone because of their skin color, their accent, or their address. We betray Jesus every time we refuse to see someone who is hurting, someone who is sick, someone who just needs a friend.

We don’t think ourselves as betraying Jesus when we do those things. In fact, we aren’t thinking of Jesus at all. We consider Jesus when we want something from Him. We maybe feel a little guilty when the pastor reminds us to give to the mercy fund or volunteer at an outreach event. But mostly we just go our own way and do our own thing. If we feel like helping others, we do. And if we don’t feel like it, we don’t.

What much did it take for Jesus to prove how much He loves us? How much did it cost for God’s Son to show us how to live our lives? And still we don’t get it. Still we live focused on ourselves and not on others. Still we betray Jesus day after day.

During this season of darkness and light, let us also remember our own guilt and betrayal. Because it is in the remembering that we learn how to walk with Jesus day by day, showing His love, compassion and kindness to all of God’s people.

Friday, March 9, 2012

We Want. We Want. We want.

My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. -- Psalm 22:2

We pray and pray and pray. And the only answer we hear is silence. It hurts. Has God abandoned us? Has He stopped caring? Do we not matter to Him?

It’s hard not to be afraid. Gas prices keep going up. The economy, while better, is still scary. Earlier this week a local company announced plans to close. Hundreds will lose their jobs. That sort of thing reverberates through the communities around it. Add a few health issues, work stresses and other issues and that peace God promises seems elusive at best.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. -- John 15:7

Okay, God, I want … (fill in the blank here). Isn’t that what prayer has become for us? Oh, we thank Him for His blessings but we also are filled with requests. We have a list and we treat God as though it is His job to fulfill our desires. We forget that our lives are not about us. We forget that He is the Almighty God and it is all about Him.

Does He want good things for us? Absolutely. But we stop before reading the next verse, which says that Jesus’ disciples produce much fruit that will bring great glory to God. Perhaps what we should ask for are things that bring God glory -- and that’s what He will do for us.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” -- Luke 22:42

Sometimes God says no. It’s that simple and that complicated. It’s not about you. Remember that. Because it is about you too. If God would not spare His own Son a horrible death in order to save you and me, why do we expect Him to spare us the pains of this life?

But we do. We want an easy ride. It isn’t realistic. Life isn’t easy and to live without trials and pain just isn’t going to happen. God promises to carry us through the tough times. He doesn’t promise to keep them from happening.

God hears our prayers. He loves us unconditionally. He is with us always. Those are promises to hold on to, no matter how He answers

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Prayer Is Powerful

"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." -- Luke 22:46

Temptation is all around us. Every day. It never goes away, whether it's a TV show we shouldn't be watching, a party we really shouldn't attend or an attitude we really should adjust. It's just so easy to sin. It is. And it's easy to make excuses. It's not so easy to be strong enough to resist the temptation.

Jesus told us what to do. Pray. And keep praying. It's a whole lot more difficult to sin when you're on your knees before God. It's much harder to be angry and stay angry. It's harder to make bad choices. Not impossible. Just more difficult. Satan has a difficult time snatching you away when you're in God's Presence.

Part of praying is reading and studying God's Word. It's not just telling Him what you want and what you need Him to do for you. It's listening to Him. It's paying attention to what He says. It's following His will for your life.

Whenever time gets short and excuses abound, sit down and ask yourself why. Are you avoiding God for a reason? What? You're not? Then why aren't you spending time with Him? That's what praying is, you know. It's spending time with God. Same thing when you read His Word and reflect on what He's telling you. That's all spending time with Him. So if you don't pray or read the Bible, well, you're avoiding God.

Don't know where to start? One good thing about God is that you don't need a script. You don't have to organize a plan. You sure don't need any answers. Just call out to Him. He'll meet you where you are and tell you all you'll ever need to know. Prayer. The power behind it is simply amazing.