He was called
Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. Matthew 10:4
Today’s scripture says that Jesus called Judas to be one of His disciples. Judas didn’t just sneak into the group and one day Jesus looked up and said, “Where did you come from?” No, Jesus knew exactly who Judas was and even that he would one day betray Him. However, Jesus didn’t change His plan because of what He knew about Judas. The call on Judas’s life was there from the beginning and stayed there until the end. If Judas had come back to Jesus or the other disciples after betraying Him and repent, he would have been forgiven just like we are today. It doesn’t matter how many times we mess up or what we do, when we repent and turn away from sin, there is always forgiveness for us.
Today, every person has a call on their life, but not every person steps into that call. Some get distracted and some think they aren’t good enough. Some even think it is beneath them to step away from something they have done their entire adult life to step into God’s planned place for them. The fact is, it is our responsibility as God’s family to seek out that place in the body where we belong. Maybe it is where we are right now, but maybe it is some place else. The truth is that you can know and when you get into that place, because there is a grace that covers you that will not be evident anywhere else. (1Cor. 12:11)
The thing about Judas was that he was in his called place operating in his gift. It would seem that it was a safe place, safe from temptation and safe from evil. But sin came to him even there and it was able to knock him off the course of being one of the disciples that turned the world upside down after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. (Acts 17:6)
This is what we need to be on guard against always even today. The weights and sin that can knock us off course. After we have pressed in and are led to our place of grace, it is still a place where you need to keep your relationship with your Heavenly Father intact. In fact, you may need to step in a little closer to Him by spending quiet time and worshiping Him, to ensure that you do not get too busy for Him. Your ministry can become hectic and take over the special time you once spent in His presence. Then is where you will find yourself facing choices you never should have been exposed to in the first place.
Today I want to encourage you to seek out and follow Him to your called place. Ask Him to make the path there plain and clear. If you are already in that position, press into Him closer than you ever have before. Use your free time to worship and talk with Him. Don’t let the enemy lure you away with distractions like social media and even financial gain. Trust God to empower you to be a force for the kingdom of Heaven within your call today. You won’t always do things perfectly, but when you do mess up, be quick to repent. Don’t take a detour because you are trying to fix a mess by yourself. Take it to your Father and He will turn that thing around and make it come out for good instead.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 10:1-4
1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
The Daily Dose 