Apicontent

“Then Jesus went out and made his way, as he customarily did, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he came to the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’” —Luke 22:39–40

While some people find routine to be boring, I often find it comforting. Routine was a part of Jesus’ life, too. In our verses for today we find Him “as he customarily did” on the Mount of Olives. He would routinely retreat to a solitary place where He could spend time with His Father in prayer.

There are certain spiritual disciplines that should be routine in our lives … and this is one of them. When we spend time with God and in His Word, we find focus and strength and clarity.

Scripture tells us:

“Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.” —2 Timothy 2:15

“Pray continually.’ —1 Thessalonians 5:17

“In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.” —Psalm 119:11

In our verses for today, Jesus commands us to pray against falling into temptation. We must recognize and flee from whatever or whoever causes us to stumble and fall from the path God has chosen for us to follow. We are not to make excuses or try to justify poor choices when the Holy Spirit is clearly directing us to “Run!”, “Flee!”, “Don’t go there!”, or “Don’t do it!” When God shows us that something is wrong for us, it is wrong for us—no matter if it is acceptable for someone else. We must keep our eyes on our own paths! The conscience is a wonderful gift from God—pay attention to it!

Become More

“So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.” —Colossians 3:5–10

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place.” —2 Corinthians 2:14

Further Reflection

“Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.” —Ephesians 6:10–18

“But Peter said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me.’” —Luke 22:33–34

We must be on guard against our presumption, lest, like Peter, we fail. Peter, as confident as he was in his own heart, was not ready to go to prison or to death with Jesus. Our hearts are untrustworthy. Let’s give Peter credit; this event occurred prior to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit’s power. Our flesh is flawed at best, nevertheless, we are to be on guard against the deceitfulness of our own hearts:

“The human mind is more deceitful than anything else. It is incurably bad. Who can understand it? I, the Lord, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.” —Jeremiah 17:9–10

The Lord is the only true discerner of each person’s innermost thoughts and motives. This is particularly important for us to acknowledge in the spiritual realm.

“Private loop-holes, sinful lusts, can hide themselves at times so well as to seem quite dead; but if we grow careless, they spring up again on a favourable occasion, and sometimes appear in a spiritual shape, and take a fine spiritual name. Thus, though the flesh exceedingly likes sensual indulgences, yet to flatter its lust of pride, and the vanity of being thought a perfect man, it will sometimes endure great mortification. Therefore we ought always to be jealous of ourselves, and guard as much against self-righteousness as licentiousness; for the flesh is never more fleshly and dangerous than when it has the most spiritual appearance, and covers its lusts with the holiness and spirituality of angels.” —K. H. von Bogatzky

Become More

How do we go about searching and guarding our hearts so as to equip ourselves for the high calling of discipleship? Like King David, we must ask God to examine our hearts and point out to us what needs to go and what needs to be fanned into flames. We must seek His ways fully through study and application of His Word, through prayer, through praise and thanksgiving, and through hiding His Word in our hearts.

“Examine me, O God, and probe my thoughts! Test me, and know my concerns! See if there is any idolatrous way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way!” —Psalm 139:23–24

Further Reflection

“The wiser we are in our own conceits, the more negligent are we in prayer, the more destitute of true wisdom and faith; for the Lord gives sight only to the blind, and to the babes, who pray for it.” —K. H. von Bogatzky

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.’ You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. You ought to say instead, ‘If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.’” —James 4:13–15

“Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” —Luke 22:31–32

These verses wonderfully demonstrate the sovereignty of God by presenting His omniscience (all-knowing) and omnipotence (all-powerful) character. As believers, we are kept by the all-knowing and all-powerful care of God! In these verses, we also see God’s boundaries on Satan.

Remember the disciple’s words spoken of Jesus?

“And the men were amazed and said, “What sort of person is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!” —Matthew 8:27

Jesus is our faithful intercessor who sits at the right hand of God and lives to intercede for us.

The writer of Hebrews says:

“But he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” —Hebrews 7:24–25

As believers, we are not left to our own resources in our sufferings but are helped by the Holy Spirit. We are weak, yet Christ is our strength. After the suffering, we are able to brightly present the very presence of Jesus to a hurting world. When the dross has been skimmed off after the heat, bright gold shines forth. After our trials, we are better equipped to encourage and strengthen our brothers and sisters.

Become More

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.” —Romans 8:26–27

Further Reflection

“May the Lord make us watchful against our own spirit, and against the evil one, especially when he is transformed into an angel of light, that it may not be in his power to sift us so as to gain an advantage over us, by our listening to his inward suggestions, or yielding to his subtle temptations.” —K. H. Von Bogatzky

“Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’” —Luke 22:17–20

The Master’s table is our individual and corporate privilege! When we come to it, we obtain a fresh and renewed awareness of the precious benefits of our Savior’s sacrifice. It is to be our constant reminder of the person and work of Jesus. His body broken, His blood poured out, the elements constantly pointing to the truth that Christ Jesus died for sinners; our foundation for encouragement, hope, and joy. The blood of animals, while commanded through the law, was not sufficient. The constant sacrificing for sins was proof enough of that. The writer of Hebrews tells us:

“For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship. For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” —Hebrews 10:1–4

Jeremiah prophesied regarding God’s future establishment of a new covenant which would be based on the full and eternal atonement secured by the death of Christ Jesus. 

“Indeed, a time is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I was like a faithful husband to them,” says the LORD. “But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the LORD. “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God and they will be my people.” —Jeremiah 31:31–33

This new covenant is based on an individual, personal knowledge of God and is characterized by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is an eternal covenant of peace which Jesus, the Prince of Peace, ushers in. Paul tells us in Colossians:

“And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” —Colossians 2:13–15

“The agony in Gethsemane was the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Savior of the world. The veil is pulled back here to reveal all that it cost Him to make it possible for us to become sons of God. His agony was the basis for the simplicity of our salvation. The Cross of Christ was a triumph for the Son of Man. It was not only a sign that our Lord had triumphed, but that He had triumphed to save the human race. Because of what the Son of Man went through, every human being has been provided with a way of access into the very presence of God.” —Oswald Chambers

Become More

“God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” —2 Corinthians 5:21

“For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.” —John 3:16–17

Further Reflections

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” —-Acts 4:12

“For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–it is not by works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8–9

“Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas took the piece of bread, he went out immediately. Now it was night.” —John 13:29–30

The hour had arrived when darkness reigned. Judas had perhaps deceived some of his peers, but he had in no way fooled the Lord Jesus. Jesus was not taken by surprise—He never is. We find this confirmed in Luke when Jesus responds to those who came to arrest Him:

“Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come out to get him, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs like you would against an outlaw?’” —Luke 22:52–53

Make no mistake about it; darkness reigned because darkness was permitted to reign. God is the only one with ultimate, full, and complete power—Satan must answer to Him. Recall the story of blameless Job. The adversary could do nothing more to Job than God allowed:

“So the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.’ Satan answered the LORD, ‘Is it for nothing that Job fears God? Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!’ So the LORD said to Satan, ‘All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!’ So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.” —Job 1:8–12

Again Satan asks permission to attack Job and God once again places certain restrictions upon him:

“Again the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also arrived among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Where do you come from?’ Satan answered the LORD, ‘From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.’ Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil. And he still holds firmly to his integrity, so that you stirred me up to destroy him without reason.’ But Satan answered the LORD, ‘Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life! But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!’ So the LORD said to Satan, ‘All right, he is in your power; only preserve his life.’” —Job 2:1–6

After Jesus’ death and resurrection Peter addresses the crowds with the following truth:

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know—this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power.” —Acts 2:22–24

In our verses for today, we are told that because Judas was in charge of the group’s money, some of the disciples assumed the high road regarding his actions—not even questioning his abrupt departure—they trusted him. They were surely fooled and soon to be sorely disappointed. Nothing hurts worse than a betrayal by a friend or family member or loved one. Second-guessing one of their own would not have entered their minds. They were supposed to be like-minded brothers—treating one another lovingly and selflessly—following closely in their Master’s footsteps.

Become More

While the disciples had no reason to question Judas, Jesus knew fully was all of his motives, yet treated him no differently. 

Jesus is never taken by surprise. Satan has boundaries—God does not. Always keep your trust in God alone!

Further Reflection

“But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8

“Then the disciple whom Jesus loved leaned back against Jesus’ chest and asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus replied, ‘It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.’ Then he dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘What you are about to do, do quickly.’ Now none of those present at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas.” —John 13:25–28

Leaning against Jesus, the beloved disciple is perfectly positioned to ask of the Master who will be the one to betray Him. Those who rest upon the Lord are privy to some of the deepest secrets of His heart. 

All are invited to rest with Jesus. His call found in Matthew is not an exclusive one:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” —Matthew 11:28–30

I can just imagine John’s head against Jesus’ chest. Rest is very important to God and it is a subject which is addressed many times in Scripture. God himself rested on the seventh day making it holy. He commanded man to rest, animals to rest, and even the land to rest. We who live in such a frenzied hectic world should take note of this. We put more and more on our plates filling our hours with work and more work yet getting less and less accomplished. We seem to be continually striving to drink from the empty cups of our own power, ever stuffing our emotions, acceptance, money, positions, and possessions into bags with gaping soul holes—always coming up unsatisfied.

However, it is God’s desire for us to be abiding, not striving or struggling. We are to be looking to Jesus and His power. He is our strength for service as well as our source of abundant unchanging joy.

Jesus clearly teaches that our strength is found in resting in Him! This sure truth remains—anything of eternal value is accomplished only through Him:

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.” —John 15:4–5

What does remaining or resting look like in real life? How is this intimate relationship with Jesus achieved? Certainly, it begins with our salvation in Christ, accepting Jesus as our Savior and Lord … but it was never meant to cease at that point. Our growth—our sanctification—is to continue throughout our lives. Resting consists of being in fellowship with God through His Word, through prayer, and through loving obedience to Him. It is secure and safe. It is a place of peace and hope and strength. 

Become More

Never having given Christ lordship of his heart, Judas remained open to the advances of the adversary.

“Let us watch jealously over our hearts, and beware of giving way in the beginnings of sin. Happy is he who feareth always, and walks humbly with his God. The strongest Christian is the one who feels his weakness most, and cries most frequently, ‘Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe.’” —John Ryle

Further Reflection

“As to work, mine was never so plentiful, so responsible, or so difficult; but the weight and strain are all gone. The last month or more has been perhaps the happiest of my life, and I long to tell you a little of what the Lord has done for my soul … When the agony of soul was at its height, a sentence in a letter from dear McCarthy was used to remove the scales from my eyes, and the Spirit of God revealed the truth of our oneness with Jesus as I had never known it before. McCarthy, who had been much exercised by the same sense of failure, but saw the light before I did, wrote: ‘But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith but by resting on the Faithful One.’” —Hudson Taylor

“The disciples began to look at one another, worried and perplexed to know which of them he was talking about. One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor. So Simon Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus who it was he was referring to.” —John 13:22–24

Impulsive Peter seemed always to be the first to respond. He was generally the leading man, appearing to be the most eager, the most likely to speak up, the most likely to jump out of the boat, as well as the most likely to draw the sword and cut off an ear of the opposition! He would have been a wonderful 911 worker! I have to believe Jesus loved Peter’s zeal and passion even if it could be off base! To his credit, Peter was right on target—some of the time! Consider his fine response to Jesus’ query regarding who the disciples said that He was:

“When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ They answered, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven! And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.’ Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.” —Matthew 16:13–20

Then there were the other times when Peter’s star did not shine quite so brightly. Such as the time when he was thoroughly convinced that he would never betray his Master—insisting that he would never disown Him, even to the point of death. 

Being the very impulsive type, I have no trouble relating to Peter. I can readily see myself jumping out of the boat to walk on water. It is easy for me to think I can handle something—then realize I am in over my head! However, I need to remember that apart from Christ I am always in over my head. 

But, the promise of Scripture given through the pen of Paul in Philippians breaths hope to my soul:

“I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:13

Become More

In our verses for today, the disciples were heartsick over the Lord’s news of betrayal and were certainly at a loss as to whom He could be referring. They saw their Master troubled and they too were troubled. It is God’s desire for our hearts to break over the things that break His and rejoice over those things that bring Him joy. Jesus wept over the lost in Jerusalem:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it!” —Matthew 23:37

Further Reflection

“Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.” —Thomas a Kempis

“When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, ‘I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.’” —John 13:21

Ever been betrayed by someone you considered to be a close friend? Jesus understands. In a very solemn announcement, He says that His spirit is distressed over the coming betrayal of one He has shared life with. It is painful to His core. What a bitter sorrow to witness an apostle turn apostate. It is evident that this is a particularly cutting sorrow to Jesus. Just because Judas’ actions were foreknown by our Lord neither lessened nor dulled the blow. Sorrow is no less painful known in advance. Certainly, Jesus had sensed the hardness and deadness that sin had produced in Judas’ heart. He knows exactly what is in each person’s heart, much better than we know ourselves, discerning even the motives behind our actions.

“O LORD, you examine me and know. You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives. You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do. Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O LORD, being thoroughly aware of it.” —Psalm 139:1–4

In the verse for today, Jesus was not only giving the other disciples a “heads up,” but also lovingly warning Judas as well. Unfortunately for Judas, he did not heed the Lord’s caution. The next time Judas will see Jesus will be in the garden of Gethsemane when he comes with the mob to betray Jesus. Sadly, within a very short time, both the Master and the servant are dead—the Master dying for our sins, the treacherous servant dying in his own. Judas missed his opportunity to turn from his sin.

What trouble the Lord went through for the sake of our souls! Indeed, He was acquainted with sorrow and suffering. Isaiah prophesized:

“He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant.” —Isaiah 53:3

It is verses like these that help us see the amazing love Christ demonstrated towards sinners. He died for Judas. He died for me and He died for you as well. His love for us is beyond measure in-depth and tenderness. His love carries with it the great cost of Calvary.

I am reminded of Paul’s words in Romans:

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:6–8

The single verse in John that is our verse for today reminds us that, like our Lord, we will neither be loved nor embraced by the world. We can expect opposition. We have no cause to be surprised when friends fail and people around us disappoint. We are in the world but we are not to be of the world. Friendship with God often means that we will have to endure the world’s hatred. Jesus had warned His disciples regarding this very thing:

“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world. For that is the reason the world hates you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too.” —John 15:18–20

Become More

“Redemption does not only look back to Calvary. It looks forward to the freedom in which the redeemed stand.” —Leon Morris

“Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved.” —Thomas Merton

Further Reflection

“Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary.” —William R. Newell, “At Calvary”

“Now when the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table and the apostles joined him. And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’” —Luke 22:14–16

Jesus, knowing that this Passover was to be a prologue to His suffering, kept His focus on the fact that His future suffering was necessary for humankind’s redemption and for His Father’s glory. Suffering is oftentimes the prelude to glory.

Oh if we all could only look at life through those lenses! We must not scorn the pain, the hard work, the trial, the obstacle. Rather, we must seek to see what God will produce in and through us. As we embrace our circumstances with joy, by focusing on what it will inevitably produce, we bring God much glory. We must never forget that Jesus chose to die for us, because of the outcome His actions would accomplish.

“Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and taking his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” —Hebrews 12:2

Pain is pain. We should never marginalize or minimize others’ afflictions. I remember once being told when I was going through a rather trying time that at least I was not in a concentration camp! I don’t know your pain tolerance, but being one notch better off than a concentration camp experience brought me little, if any, comfort. The promise of Scripture, on the other hand, brought peace to my troubled soul. Paul’s words in Romans reverberated in my weary spirit:

“And we know that in all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” —Romans 8:28–30

All things are not good; rather God works all things for our good. There is a huge difference between those two statements! The cross was not good, but what God worked by that action was extremely good—the salvation of humankind!

Our goal as believers in Jesus is found in the book of Colossians:

“[to] stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” —Colossians 4:12

Become More

Standing firm and fully assured even when the winds of trial and dire circumstances are blowing is a mark of a mature Christian. It is also a mark of one who brings glory to God. It is easy to be “on fire” when circumstances are favorable, but let a little rainfall on our parade and we are often found wallowing in self-pity, groaning, and complaining. How much better for us to season our lives with the spices of contentment and joy rather than to harbor bitterness and resentment which will corrode our lives like acid.

Further Reflection

“A depressed, dejected, dispirited believer is a poor recommendation for the Christian faith. We’re to be hopeful people—optimists—who have grasped the reality of Romans 8:28 and its guarantee of God’s all-encompassing providence over the lives of His children.” —Robert Morgan

“What I am saying does not refer to all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who eats my bread has turned against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I am he.” —John 13:18–19

Jesus is referring here to the prophecy given in Psalm 41:

“Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared meals with me, has turned against me.” —Psalm 41:9

Jesus’ selection of Judas as a disciple had been no accident or kink in God’s plans. Our Lord had known Judas’ heart from the beginning and took one into His family whom He knew would be a traitor. This was to fulfill Scripture. Jesus had spoken of this to the disciples earlier in John:

“‘Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? and yet one of you is a devil!’ (Now he said this about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for Judas one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.)” —John 6:70–71

“The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, ‘Not every one of you is clean.’)” —John 13:10–11

Judas was an apostle who experienced the highest privilege of spending time with Jesus, not to mention being an eyewitness to His great miracles and teachings. Wherever Jesus went, Judas was welcome; sitting at the table with Jesus and His disciples, eating the miraculous bread when the loaves and fishes were multiplied, sharing the Passover meal with those closest to Jesus. And yet, Judas was guilty of terrible treachery. He despised Jesus as his enemy for the love of money. 

However, Jesus appears to treat Judas no differently than his other disciples. Jesus loved him to the end—showing compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience. The other disciples had no idea who would be the one to betray Him.

As Jesus’ followers, we are called to the same high road of love and compassion through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us in Colossians:

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond.” —Colossians 3:12–14

There is a message for us as well on how we are to treat our enemies in Paul letter to the Romans: 

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Consider what is good for all people. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” —Romans 12:17–21

We can only control our own actions and reactions. We are to be good, noble, and honorable in our interactions—living in harmony whenever possible. We must leave the poor behavior of others in God’s hands. We are accountable before God for our own 

Jesus wanted His disciples to know that He was who He said He was: the Messiah, the “I AM.”

Become More

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” —Hebrews 13:8

Further Reflection

“But there’s a decision that I find God is asking us to make: whether we are going to choose to interpret our circumstances based on what we hold to be true about God, or whether we’re going to judge what we hold to be true about God based on our circumstances. People ask how we’re doing, and I like to say: ‘We have a faithful God.’ Every promise he’s kept, every need he’s met.” —Laura Story