He was called
Simon the Canaanite, 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 just didn’t sneak into the group and one day Jesus looked up and said, “Where did you come from, you son of perdition?” No, Jesus knew exactly who Judas was and even that he would one day turn Him over to the guards. However, Jesus didn’t change His plan because of what He knew about Judas. The call on Judas’ life was there from the beginning and stayed there until the end of his life. If Judas had come back to Jesus or the other disciples after betraying Him and repented, he would have been forgiven just like we are today. It doesn’t matter how many times we mess up or what we do, if 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 maybe 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 someplace else. The good news is that you can know and when you get into that place, there is a grace that covers you that will be evident for others to see. (1Cor. 12:11)
The thing about Judas was that he was in his called place operating in his gift. You would think that he was in 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. Of choosing the weights and sin that can lure us away from the call of God on our lives. After you have pressed in and stepped in to your 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 press in a little closer to Him by spending quiet time and worshiping Him, to ensure that you do not get too busy for Him. It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of ministry and if you are not careful, that activity can take the place of the special time you used to spend 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. If you do fall down, don’t stay down. Quickly repent and follow the Holy Spirit back to your appointed position. Turn you focus to helping others so that they can find their place along the way too.
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 