From: April 23, 2025
“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money” (Luke 22:3-5 ESV).
The name Judas has become a byword for betrayal. Once a popular Hebrew name prior to the 1st century, who would name a baby “Judas” after the one from Iscariot has so ruined it? Yet, should we be so quick to distance ourselves from the name and the betrayal it portrays? For haven’t we all betrayed Christ, becoming like Judas in some fashion?
The betrayal of Judas is made all the worse for his favored position, for he was one of the Twelve. He was hand-picked by Jesus and entrusted with the disciples’ money bag. But there lay his great weakness and therefore the strength of Satan’s temptation. Judas loved money. And Satan identified his natural passion and lust, fanning it into the flame of betrayal. This is how Satan works. He identifies our natural desire and worms his way into our thinking, so that we are convinced that we deserve to have our lust gratified. The love of money was the crack in Judas’ heart that allowed Satan’s entrance.
Judas chose money over his Master. This led to the most heinous betrayal in human history. Yet, don’t we all have a little of Judas in us? Aren’t we tempted to put our love of another person, a valued possession or some particular passion, ahead of our love of Christ? Be careful of loving anyone or anything before Christ. For this is where Satan will seek a place to tempt us to betray our beloved Savior.
The apostle Paul warned Timothy about the love of money, he said, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tim. 6:10).
As Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matt. 6:24).
PRAYER: Dear Father, just like Judas we are often tempted by the love of money and material things. Lead us from this temptation and deliver us from evil. For we desire to serve Jesus as our Master. Help us to live humbly and generously. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: April 23, 2024
‘I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence’ (Psalm 91:2-3 ESV).
The psalmist declared in advance his intent to call on the Lord when facing a trap or temptation of an enemy or a deadly disease. He said, “I will say.” In other words, He had predetermined how he would respond if temptation or trouble were to come his way. He said that he would declare the Lord as his “refuge,” the home were he could rest. He would call the Lord his “fortress,” his place of safety from all harm. He had already decided, come what may, that he would put his “trust” in the LORD.
What have you decided to say in a season of trouble? Because in this life, trouble always comes. Will you look to yourself, your job, or the government, or some other thing to “deliver” you, to rescue you?
Instead, let us be like the psalmist. Let us decide in advance how we will speak. May our words, both internal and external be focused on the Lord, our Refuge, our Fortress, our Deliverer, in Him alone will we put our trust!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we put our trust in You. There is always trouble in this world. But we run to You as our refuge and fortress. We put our trust in You as our Deliverer. Therefore we will not fear. For we trust in You. Strengthen us now this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: April 23, 2023
“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NLT).
Have you ever heard of the “Urgent-Important Matrix?” It is a time management system made popular by Stephen Covey’s book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” The matrix teaches that every task can be placed in one of four possible quadrants: Q1) Urgent and important, Q2) Important, not urgent, Q3) Urgent, not important, and Q4) Not urgent, not important. The basic idea is that we should focus on important things, so that we don’t waste time on the unimportant, nor living in frantic urgency because of procrastination.
The Book of Proverbs taught this principle long before Covey made it popular. Understanding that our days are numbered can motivate us to live life with a sense of urgent-importance. “Urgent” because putting it off until tomorrow means eventually running out of tomorrows. And “important” because we often fill our days with unimportant things.
If the Lord has put it on your heart today, then do it now! Prayerfully consider what is most important, then focus on those things every day. This is not a morbid state of mind, being aware of your limited days. This is wisdom, not wasting the time God has given you on planet earth. Don’t waste your life!
PRAYER: Dear Father, teach us to number our days, so we have a heart of wisdom. We don’t want to waste the time You have given us. Yet, what we may judge urgent or important might not line up with Your priorities. Therefore teach us to call those things that You deem “urgent and important” as priorities for us too. Strengthen us to do them according to Your timing. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: April 23, 2016
When Jesus told Peter and John to go and prepare the Passover, they asked, “Where?” Jesus didn’t respond with an address, but with a set of circumstances and a person. He told them that they would meet a man carrying a jar of water as they entered Jerusalem and that they should follow him to the place. He even told them what to ask when they got there.
Have you ever experienced this kind of direction and help from the Lord? Peter and John were ready to obey, but needed direction. Sometimes we are ready to obey, but we don’t pause to ask the Lord for help. We come up with our own plans, rather than asking the Lord for where He wants us to go. What joy to hear the Lord’s voice saying, “Follow the man with the water jar!”
From: April 23, 2015
Understanding that our days are numbered can motivate us to live life with a sense of urgent importance. “Urgent,” because putting off till tomorrow means eventually running out of tomorrows. If the Lord has put it on your heart, then do it now! And “important,” because we often fill our days with unimportant things. Prayerfully consider what is most important, then focus on those things every day. This is not a morbid state of mind, being aware of your limited days. This is wisdom, not wasting the time God has given you on planet earth. Don’t waste your life!