Soap - The Price of Christ

S: Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?" And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him.

Matthew 26:14-15

Even my close friend in whom I trusted,

Who ate my bread,

Has lifted his heel against me.

But You, O Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up,

That I may repay them.

By this I know that You are pleased with me,

Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.

As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,

And You set me in Your presence forever.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

From everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and amen.

Psalm 41:9-13

O: For some reason this verse stuck to me as I tried to finish my reading. I never thought much of Judas, other than the fact that he was the one who betrayed Jesus to the high priests. But coming across this particular passage, I felt convicted of the question the Judas asked the high priests: "What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?"

This reveals a few things about Judas. He was already willing to betray Jesus for some sort of monetary or material compensation. Extrapolating from there, Judas infinitely insults the worth of Christ by showing that he neither cares for or understands Jesus in any way. Judas is a murderer, who has little regard for any person other than himself.

But, worse, is that Judas' attitude does not die out with his hanging. The question that which he asked is still asked today. Such a painful question, because I feel like that's what we ask the world and the tempter everyday. What would we get, in return for abandoning our Lord? Sinful pleasures and worldly lusts that gratify momentarily-we trade our gold for glitter and stickers.

And so, the world and Satan answers deftly to the flesh that cries out the question that Judas asked, long ago-Forget His grace and sacrifice, we have one life to live on this earth and that's it. Truth is discarded because lies look more attractive.

By 30 pieces of silver, Judas received his payment. By our means of living out our fleshly desires and sinfulness, we receive our payment. In Exodus 21:32, the price of a slave was 30 pieces of silver. The Saviour of the world was sold out for the same price as a slave-it seems almost fitting as Christ describes Himself: "...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but the serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mt. 20:28) And so He was servant to the fullest degree, even at the price he was betrayed.

A: I often forget that old habits and old snares are still a danger - I was seriously humbled yesterday (as well as exhausted by work work work). I will remember that giving into my flesh without a fight is the same as selling out Jesus-honestly, I'm sure many people would have done what Judas did-but I want to make sure I'm that person that at least has an inkling of the worth of Christ. If I really saw the infinite value of His sacrifice, I know that would keep me from falling for the snares that which He died to save me from. I suppose that's what this is-a daily living to see Christ more and more clearly in this life of mine. I will fight for a tangible encounter with God each day-so as to not compromise what He did for me-because I know if I don't ready myself in His Word quickly enough or take the time to pray, nothing will change and I will fall for the same sins and see nothing but a drought and motions.

P: Father, Your majesty humbles. There is no one like You:
For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,
You who have done great things;
O God, who is like You?

Psalm 72:19

My flesh is weak. My resolve is weak-and I am sorry that I continually think I can battle my flesh without Your Spirit. Father, I pray that I may be more vigilant in this daily fight for my holiness. Show me the way, I know it may be tough and it may be difficult on me-but I know it's worth it. Discipline me as You see fit and teach me to walk in all Your ways. Please forgive me of my transgressions as I turn to walk in righteousness. I know it's never supposed to be a checklist of how many days I can go without sinning or anything, but I hope that my repentance would be genuine and assisted by the Holy Spirit-drive the desire for holiness into me Lord, because I know You desire Your bride to be clean.

Thank You for the humbling experiences I've faced this week. I have failed to love like You-but I press on and I am thankful that You always bring reconciliation as a priority in my life. Thank You for Jun-I pray that He may commit to spending more time with You as well as leaving no room for regret as this year passes. I pray that You may do a powerful work in his heart and I pray that he would present his baggage before Your feet, ready to walk with You, Lord. Thank You for good friends and good people in my life that have really made an impact with me.

I pray that You would remind me of this passage. I would ask that there is no price, no payment that would be enough for me to sell out my Saviour-even the pleasures of sin, I pray would be quashed the moment I look back on the critical mistake Judas made in failing to see the supreme worth of Christ. I pray that You would draw me to the cross when I am tempted-I need You so badly, because I know that I just cannot win a fight against myself without my Saviour. It is impossible. So I pray that You would be my 'rock of habitation' - my very dwelling place. In Christ, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria