Point Break
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. Mark 14:10
Have you ever been pushed to your limit by the circumstances happening around you? So many unexpected disappointments at once that it put you close to the edge? Maybe it was financial pressure or family trouble? Maybe politics at work or the betrayal of a close friend? Maybe it was all of these things happening at the same time? One could certainly understand if you met your breaking point when your world seemed to be crumbling around you. The important thing is, what do you do next? Do you give up? Do you try to fix all the problems yourself or do you surrender them over to your Father in heaven? The decision you make at that point will either make your way established or could break destroy all that the Lord has been doing in your life and in your heart.
In today’s reading, there was a woman that came to Jesus and began to anoint Him with a very extravagant gift. It was the most precious thing she had, and she poured it out on Jesus because she loved and honored Him so much. Jesus didn’t correct her, but He protected her from the scrutiny of the crowd and taught them how her gift would mark her as one who gave it all for Him. This was the final straw for Judas. It was the offense that pushed him over the edge. Judas had already betrayed the ministry by stealing from the funds, but he was no longer able to hold back the contempt he felt for Jesus’ goodness to others. I don’t know if he thought the priest would be unable to take Jesus because he had seen Jesus in tight spots before? Or if he really wanted Jesus to be brought down by the hands of men. I do know he was out for the money they offered him, but in betraying Jesus, he went further than he was ever able to come back from.
What do you think? If Judas had confessed and repented would Jesus have forgiven and cleansed him from all unrighteousness? I certainly believe so. It was a terrible thing to do, but Jesus most certainly could have restored him. However, Judas was unable to live with the shame of his actions and instead of running to Jesus, he ran aways from him and took his own life. It is one of the saddest events in the bible. One of Jesus closest and trusted friends on the outside, yet on the inside there was deception and lies.
Today I want to encourage you to examine where your breaking point is. Take a look at your life and think about what things would push you close to the edge. Imagine what your decision would be when you got to that point and consider would you run to God or away from Him? Put together an action plan that will help you to surrender all your struggles over to Him to receive His peace and solutions. Your plan should start with spending time with Him each day and making it a priority and habit to surrender your day and everything in it now when things are going well. Then you will already be in the habit of running to Him with everything and you will not be as tempted to run and hide when thing randomly come up. Next get around others that are fully surrendered and they will encourage you when you need it most. Don’t let the enemy push you over the edge when you get close, call out to Jesus and He will come and rescue you from all your troubles.
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 14:1-11
1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death.
2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.
4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.
8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.
11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
The Daily Dose 