Internet Devotions: Choice Shaped - Luke 22:4

Luke 22:4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 

At one time, I used to feel sorry for Judas because I felt that he was given an unfair deal. However, the older I get the more that I realize that we are all shaped by the decisions we make. Sometimes there are circumstances out with our control, but for most of us living in the West, what we are is largely the result of our own choosing.

Looking at this passage (Luke 22:1-6), one quickly understands that Judas is under no pressure to betray Jesus. The clerics don’t even lobby or search for someone to help them; Judas turns up on his own because he has decided Christ needs to be halted. This is why I don’t feel sorry for him – he chooses to send an innocent man to his death and makes some money on the side. It’s a despicable act and one through which his infamous name still conveys obscene treachery.

I guess it’s also easy for all of us to point the finger at Judas and condemn him for his foul deed. Perhaps the true lesson to be learned from all of this is more of a self-reflection rather than an act of judgment. Judas’ act should make us all question the sinful and selfish decisions that we make in our own lives. Ultimately, as with Judas, those choices will also affect our salvation.

Questions for personal reflection

What decisions am I presently making that negatively affect my allegiance to Christ? Do I live to fill my own desires or do I honestly seek to serve Jesus?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we hope that we would never betray You with our choices, or separate ourselves from You with our deeds. Keep us from taking You for granted and help us to make better choices that will please You each and every day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings. It’s called “Carousel Pony” and features a white hobby horse on a carousel. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8474/8114375541_4e793a998c_b.jpg

Holy Week Devotions: Seven Last Words of Christ

(For the next seven days, Presbyterian Bloggers are posting daily devotions about Christ’s Last Words from the Cross. Some of their regular contributors – Sarah, Jody, Doug & myself – will be writing them. If you have any comments, meditations, or prayers to add to each post, please put them in the comments section.)

Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Luke 23:32-34 (NIV)

It’s highly appropriate that the first words from Christ, as He was being painfully nailed to His Cross, should be about forgiveness. His whole ministry repeatedly emphasized peace and reconciliation, mercy and restoration. In the face of such excruciating pain, Christ does not forget His mission or message. Even from the Cross, He practices what He preaches.

Jesus puts Himself between God’s wrath and those who crucified Him. He cries out for mercy, not for Himself, but for those who abuse and attack Him. He advocates on their behalf, even although they do not know who He is, what He is praying, or what they are actually doing. They are killing God. They are destroying the One Hope that the world has of salvation.

Christ is the King of all Creation, and He is also King of His Crucifiers. They are sinfully ignorant; He is divinely tolerant. Anyone else in such pain would curse those around them, but Christ passionately cares for them and asks God to forgive them.

In this holiest of all weeks in the year, let us seek such mercy, discover grace, and offer forgiveness to those who hurt us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, even from the Cross You teach us lesson of faith, hope, and love. Give us the courage to forgive one another; to be reconciled by Your grace; and to be reunited through Your amazing and fearless love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John “Stushie” Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He writes the daily devotional “Heaven’s Highway.”

The artwork is called “King for a Day,” by Stushie.