Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 5, 2014
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” John 13:26-27
A deceived mindset is a soul that flirts with spiritual death. Indeed it is from our soul that we first embrace hope or despair, truth or lies, faith or fear, security or insecurity, acceptance or rejection, love or hatred, God or Satan. A soul that gives up on God, gives in to the god of this world–the devil. Thus, a soul is at risk when it is preoccupied with vain imaginations that leaves out, even betrays the Lord. A soul that does not care about Christ is in need of serious soul care.
Judas, though familiar with matters of faith, decided that faith did not matter. His conflicted soul surrendered to short term selfish desire, rather than riding out the storm with righteous motives. He would learn the painful lesson that consequences last when the deeds are past. Jesus found him out, even before He was outed by His betrayer. The Lord Christ knew God’s bigger purpose was at work, so He let him go. Judas sacrificed his soul at the altar of Satan’s shenanigans.
“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:4-5).
Moreover, a nation’s soul is at risk when Christ continues to be pushed out of the culture’s conversation. Tolerance for everything but the truth of Scripture will kill the soul of our country. If the ideals that once made America great are put to death, we will no longer be great, but a shell of what we used to be. The soul of a nation can avoid spiritual sacrifice by remaining loyal to the Lord God Almighty. If our actions betray Jesus we lose God’s favor, but if we obey Jesus we gain God’s favor!
The good news is a soul who receives the love of their heavenly Father finds life. Life with purpose. Life with love. Life with joy. Life with peace. Jesus provides the best soul care. Our churches who rediscover their souls will flourish with the salvation of lost souls. Disciples will multiply, families will be fortified and God will be glorified. As we pour out our soul in praise to the Lord we are energized by eternal matters. A soul who hopes in God is made alive for Christ.
“These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:4-5).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, my hope is in You. Make my soul alive to Christ and His ways.
Related Readings: 1 Samuel 1:15; Psalm 103:1-2; Lamentations 3:18-26; Mark 14:34
Post/Tweet today: Consequences last when the deeds are past. #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: Dallas Willard, 6 minute video, God’s Kingdom- http://bit.ly/VHEYYJ
Our new book, The Way of Wisdom: A Journey Towards Spiritual Growth, coming October! Pre-order your copy today. Boyd’s one minute book video- http://bit.ly/1nhZ2bt
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I understand your message, but I am confused about the implication. Are you teaching that a Christian can lose their salvation because he falls into deception?
Dear Keith~
Thank you so much for reaching out to us with this very thought-provoking question. I personally would like to thank you because when I read questions like this, I must “dive into the Word” and seek out what the Lord says (and not my own thoughts…) There was plenty of verses that spoke to this very question.
The Bible clearly states that salvation is a gift from God and we cannot earn it. God gives it to us since Christ paid for it on the cross. However, once received, we MUST take care of it. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:12 that we are to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”.
Hebrews also “lays it on the line” for us:
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of fire.” Hebrews 10:26-28
After reading 2 Peter, I understand that it is much worse for someone who has accepted Jesus in his life and then “returned to his own way”, then someone who “never knew the way of righteousness”.
“If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” 2 Peter 2:20-22
So Keith, I think that yes, once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, to keep this precious gift, we must “maintain it”. We cannot go on living as if He doesn’t exist.
One last verse that once again, clearly states the answer.
“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” 1 Cor 15:1-2
Again, I thank you, Keith, for your great question! We love hearing from our Wisdom Hunters’ family and look forward to hearing from you again in the future. Please let me know if you have any further questions or comments.
Blessings to you and yours,
Gwynne
P.S. I hope you got a chance to listen to that video with Dallas Willard posted at the end of the devotional. It was very enlightening.