SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/7/2017
9:50 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-2 The Suicide of a Disciple
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts 1:16-20
Message of the
verses: “16 “Brethren, the Scripture
had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David
concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 “For he
was counted among us and received his share in this ministry." 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price
of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all
his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all who were living in
Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that
is, Field of Blood.) 20 "For it is written in the book of Psalms, ’LET HIS
HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE, AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT’; and, ’LET ANOTHER MAN
TAKE HIS OFFICE.’”
1Jo 2:19 They went
out from us, but
they were not really of
us; for if they had been of
us, they would have
remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are
not of us.” Looking at this verse helps us to see Judas
for who he truly was. Judas was with the
disciples and the Lord Jesus Christ however he was not of them, that is a true
believer. He was religious, but not
righteous and there is a big difference between them.
John MacArthur writes that “Judas was placed among the
apostles because it was essential for him to betray Jesus. God did not force Judas into that betrayal
against the man’s will. Jesus even said
of Judas that it would have better for him if he had never been born, because
of the choice he made (Matt. 26:24; cf. Luke 22:22). Instead He used Judas’s evil intent to
accomplish His own predetermined purposes (cf. Acts 2:23).” “This Man, delivered over by the
predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands
of godless men and put Him to death.”
As we look at the life that Judas had we can say with
certainty that his life represents the greatest example of wasted opportunity
in all of history. Judas was one of only
twelve disciples that walked with the Lord for three years as he was involved
in the wonderful ministry that our Lord had while on earth, but he chose 30
pieces of silver rather than a eternity with the Lord. Judas, like the other disciples believed that
the Lord was going to bring in His kingdom while on the earth, as they were all looking for an over
through the Roman Empire, but this was not God’s plan for this time. The other disciples went along with what the
Lord did after they understood why He went to the cross, but not Judas, for he
was selfish.
In the end Judas felt remorse, but did not feel the need
to repent and so he hung himself feeling guilty over what he had done. Unlike Peter who repented of his betrayal of
Jesus and then Jesus brought him back into the fold as seen in the 21st
chapter of John.
John MacArthur writes on the purchase of the Field of
Blood: “Judas did not of course, actually purchase the field in question. But because it was purchased with the money
paid to him by the Jewish leaders, Luke refers to Judas as the buyer.”
Because of what Judas did, and realizing that it was the
fulfillment of prophecy Peter says “Let his homestead be mad desolate, and let
no man dwell in it.” The as he
understood Psalm 109:8 which says His office let another man take,” Peter knew that someone else had to take his
place and we will discuss that in our next SD.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Joseph” (Genesis 44:2).
Today’s Bible
question: “Which book tells about a
valley of dry bones?”
Answer in our next SD.
7/7/2017 10:19 AM
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