TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOU HAVE.
SONG
I love the man of Galilee, for He has done so very much for me
He has forgiven me all my sins and sent to Holy Ghost to me
I love the man of Galilee.
TEXT
'"Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver." (Matthew chapter 26 verses 14 to 15)
It can be a very costly mistake not to take advantage of what we have and also who we are in Christ Jesus.
Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus' disciples. He walked with Jesus and did not know much about Him. He betrayed Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver. It was bad of him to have exchanged his Master's life for a token. No amount of money should be placed on the life of any human being, let alone the One who did so much for him, who offered such love, forgiveness, and salvation.
When Judas realized the gravity of what he did and the consequences of his behavior, he was remorseful and went back to the chief priests to return the money he'd been paid. But it was too late, for the deed had been done. The harm was irreversible.
The offense was grievous, and he regretted what he did. But his next action wasn't in any way commendable, to say the least. He failed to do what was of utmost importance. He did not ask for forgiveness of his sins. Instead, he went out and hanged himself.
Peter was also one of Jesus' disciples. He was the most outspoken among all His disciples and one of His closest friends. He was found on the same web as Judas Iscariot. Peter, on his own side, denied Jesus several times. (Matthew chapter 26 verse 75.)
In my own understanding of the Bible, these two disciples both sinned against their Master. As the Bible says in the book of Ezekiel chapter 18 verse 4, "...the soul that sinneth shall die."
These two disciples both deserved to face the punishment of their sins.
But the approaches of these two people to their offenses were different. Judas failed to ask for forgiveness from the One who gave His life for sinners and rather decided to end his life; while Peter on the other hand wept sore and asked for the forgiveness of his sins from the One that has the power to forgive sins.
Judas probably thought his sin was too grievous to be forgiven and felt that the best option was to end his life. The truth is that there is no sin too great or grievous to be forgiven by Jesus. In fact, taking his own life was another sin in itself. He could have prayed, asking for forgiveness like Peter and he would have been forgiven by his Master.
I would like to conclude by saying that it seemed that Judas was not following Jesus wholeheartedly. If he did, he could not have found himself in the company of the chief priests. Besides, he could have realized that Jesus had the power to forgive sin , no matter the magnitude.
Let us not be like Judas, who did not take advantage of what he had and who he was in Christ. Let's take advantage of Christ's atoning Sacrifice. Let's come boldly before the throne of grace and plead our causes that we might obtain mercy and be free. Jesus is waiting for us. For this purpose He came to die.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, I am grateful for the atoning work of Christ on the Cross, which has availed me of total forgiveness of my sins, in Jesus Mighty name.