Everything included in the Bible is for us to learn from in some way and measure, including why Jesus--knowing who Judas was and what he'd do--allowed Judas to be with Him from almost the start of His ministry, until the betrayal in Gethsemane. I'm going to skip over the obvious reason and move on to one that came to me during time in the book of Mark this morning:
Judas was never all-in as a true follower of Jesus.
And this made me think of the prophecy Jesus spoke of, about how some who believe they are Christians will Do Church, maybe even for decades, but never actually Be the Full-On Church Jesus instructed His followers to be, which is another way of taking the Lord's name in vain... taking it on in vain and not actually representing Him as we're supposed to.
Not only that, but how many of us who call ourselves Christians could hold up under what some in the world are experiencing? If we really are in the End Times, and if Tribulation is about to unfold, how many will "endure to the end"?
It's something for all of us to think about. I mean, Judas was with Jesus pretty much every day for three years. A 24/7 gig. And he still didn't get it. Why? He never surrendered his life to the purposes of God. I get it: It can take a while to reach that point for some of us, but it is required. That takes absolute trust in God.
My prayer, uttered nearly every day and often more than once a day, especially if I feel myself judging another or others (or did it), is to repent and ask God to open the eyes, ears, hearts, and minds of ALL OF US to His Truth, His Righteous Ways, and His Kingdom Ways so we walk in Kingdom and represent our King well in the world and in the spiritual battle we're engaged in. Because, we want to be those who not only stand but withstand, as instructed in Ephesians 6 and elsewhere in the Word.
May the peace, joy, and strength of our Lord be upon you and your loved ones. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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