HOW WE ACT AND HOW WE TREAT OTHERS MATTERS FOR ALL ETERNITY…

The Holy Spirit kept bringing some dear friends to my heart that were on a two week vacation during Easter away from their home—so I prayed for them and waited till they returned to touch base. When I called, I could hear from the sound of my friend’s voice that she was very upset and something was wrong. She began to describe the mess they found when they returned home. Their hot water heater had burst and nearly their entire home had been ruined, along with all of this couple’s old pictures of family and friends. Their entire kitchen had to be gutted, floors ripped out, as well as walls and some sub-flooring as well. 

When she entered a guest bedroom, her heart sank as the entire ceiling had caved in and had destroyed everything of value in the room as well. The water that kept pouring in created weak spots and the ceilings caved in on everything under it. 

Her husband shared how a neighbor saw water coming out of the foundation of their home and went to their well to turn off the main water supply when he noticed water running into his own lawn. My friend’s husband shared that if this neighbor had not noticed and turned the water off, the entire house would have had to be bulldozed away. 

Because they were insured, this precious couple has moved out until the insides is torn out, replaced, and made new again. That is what happens to us as believers—we must get out of the way and allow the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out.

As I listened and reflected, I began to think about how we can take nothing with us to heaven but the souls we touch for Jesus and that everything in this life will pass away but the Word of God. That nothing of value here on earth from possessions, positions, power, professions, not even pictures of people gone before us will go with us. Only the people who are born-again and made brand new by the Power of Jesus Christ will spend eternity with God. 

While we have celebrated passover and the resurrection, it would be wisdom to remember a vital part of the full account of what happened during the Passion week of Jesus in smaller pieces to help us recognize that we all have weak spots that need surrendering to God.

Take time to read Luke 22:3-6, (also Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11). 

God will separate his obedient followers from pretenders and unbelievers. The real evidence of our belief is the way we act and how we treat others. 

Why on earth would Judas agree to betray Jesus? Judas, like the other disciples, expected Jesus to start a political rebellion and overthrow Rome. Judas, as treasurer, obviously assumed that he would be given an important position in Jesus’ new government—or did he have fear of losing the place he had attained in power, profession, and possessions? What drove Judas to betray Jesus?

Judas realized that Jesus’ Kingdom was not political or physical but spiritual. Judas’s greedy desire for status and money could not be realized if he followed Jesus, so he betrayed Jesus in exchange for money and favor from the religious leaders and authorities. How could Judas not see that his wrong desires had put him in a position where Satan could manipulate him? While all along, Judas was manipulating and maneuvering for money and position, Satan was at work and entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples. 

Judas went over to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. Can you imagine the delight they had as Judas came to them to help them, promising to turn Jesus over for some kind of reward they promised him? What betrayal.

He began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus, the Son of God, so he could be arrested quietly when the crowds were not around. What deception. 

It was with a kiss that Judas betrayed the Son of God—Jesus. Betrayal comes from people close to us–not strangers. Jesus warned of this happening in Matthew 24:10. 

Satan’s part in the betrayal of Jesus does not in any way remove the responsibility from Judas. No matter what Judas might have thought, it was obvious he was not surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 

Never forget that the enemy of our souls—Satan—is good at finding our weak spots and trying to use them for his evil purposes. 

For this reason, we must each surrender and yield every part of our lives to Christ. Choose to recognize your weak spots and yield them to Jesus’ power. We all have them…. 

Each day, we must practice surrender by humbly coming to the foot of the cross in the spirit of repentance and faith, fully surrendering our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 

Commitment to Christ and surrender are two different things. Commitment is a term where you can have control of the reigns and is something you do. Surrender means giving up control, no manipulation, turning over all to the Master Jesus Christ. Practice daily surrender! It will be well worth it for all eternity. 

The surrendered life is the foundation under everything. Bend the knee and lift your hands toward heaven in an act of surrender of all today.