17/04/2023 - CHOSE THE BAD SIDE

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And said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26.15

Jesus visited Bethany and a crowd gathered before Him to learn the Truth and receive His blessings. Today, when we go anywhere to take the Lord’s teaching, we must be prepared for whatever comes our way, for this has already been approved by God. While the Master was in Simon’s house, a woman came to the Lord carrying an alabaster flask of spikenard and poured it on His head. The house was filled with this perfume (John 12.1-4).

This act, which was something unusual for many, had been consented by the Lord, but notice: Jesus’ own disciples rebuked that woman (Matthew 26.8,9). We must stay alert to God’s lessons; otherwise, we will miss the blessings that are about to occur. His disciples, instead of approving this attitude, opposed it, saying that such merchandise should have been sold for three hundred dinars, a day’s wages for 300 workers, and given to the poor. 

The apostle John gives more details about this revolt of the disciples, when he says that it was Judas Iscariot, the treasurer of the ministry, who began to reprove Mary, the sister of Lazarus, who had risen from death (John 12.4-6). The apostle also informs us that it was not the care for the poor that moved Judas to make such comment, but the fact that he was a thief. This demon is still at work today in the lives of those who are elevated to the position of treasurer or one responsible for the finances of the ministry, because they choose the bad side of the role entrusted to them.

When a person lets a little resentment enter his heart, he begins to hate those who do the work out of love. The devil acts in his heart and mind, leading him to despair and lose the opportunity to prove himself reliable. Perhaps someone like this will not live for many years, even dying young. The sad thing is that the nonconformist will upset his own house, and the fruits he will reap will be bitter (Proverbs 15.27).

How many times did the treasurer of the greatest and best ministry in the world hear the Master teach about faithfulness, but closed his heart and continued in error? God knew that whoever sold himself to the devil would also sell his Lord: Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests (Matthew 26.14). Judas did not go to the priests to preach the Word to them, but negotiate the life of Jesus!

When he understood that Judas Iscariot would be used by the devil, the Holy Spirit must have spoken to his heart, showing him that he had made a bad choice. However, like a man who falls in love with a woman, Judas wouldn’t listen to anyone, until he repented and took away his own life. Right now, there are people giving to the devil the place they should give to the Lord. Poor souls that choose the bad side!

Why become a defendant of Hell, if you have been called to be a member of the Body of Christ. There is no plausible explanation for adultery, or any other unclean act. Whoever commits sin sells himself to the devil. There is still time to repent and get out of the hands of the enemy. Pray now and be delivered from this power that wants your eternal harm.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares