Betrayer, Loved!!!

14Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over." Matthew 26

Judas, a disciple of Jesus, one who followed Jesus, was a participant in His ministry, such a man betrayed Jesus for a few pieces of silver. It is so disheartening as I read this account today. How can one sell such a wonderful friend like Jesus???

I analysed my life today and I find a lot of traces of Judas in me too. For a few moments of pleasure, for a few pieces of money, for a few fleshly enjoyment, many a times I have sold my friend Jesus. I have sold my precious time with my Friend Jesus for a few extra episodes of some wasteful program or to do something I could have done without. Precious "NOW" time, the moment when eternity meets reality...the "NOW" time. What if I had spent a little more time in prayer or reading His Word, I would have drawn more closer to the One Who loved me sooo, that He died for me.

It is so easy to love someone who loves you, but can we love someone who is unloveable, one who has betrayed you? One whom you trusted, called a friend, spent night and day with them, shared your ministry with them and then were rejected by them? Jesus' ministry, His mission was and still is His most valuable thing, He shared His power and everything with His disciples only to find- being betrayed by one of them, being denied by one of them, being disregarded as unimportant when He asked them to stand with Him in prayer and they slept. How could He yet love so much that He gave up His life for us?

This is the kind of Friend I have in Jesus. This is my God I serve. This is His level of commitment toward me. Even when I was unborn, He died for me and made my life so beautiful and because of His love I can carry on. Because of His death I have abundant life. Because of His stripes and wounds I live healthy. I know He considered me very precious, even worth being paid for in His blood.

Jesus considers YOU important too, He has died for YOU that you would have a wonderful life, hope and a future. The punishment YOU had to bear He has taken away if only YOU would believe Him and know Him and His love for YOU. I promise YOU, like me in Jesus YOU will find a friend like no other.

Dear Lord Jesus, I don't have words to thank you immensely for being my God and my Saviour. For being there for me even when I betrayed You. For forgiving me every time I sinned and picking me up every time I fell short. For giving me a hope and a future in You. Thank you for loving me like no one else ever has. Help me to be unselfish, driven with Your kind of passion for your people, especially the ones who don't know You, that they may experience Your love through me. Amen