Do we do this with Jesus? When His Holy Spirit convicts us with Truth by reading His Word, hearing a sermon, or just His whisper to our hearts, how do we respond? How do deal with it? Can you imagine the look in Jesus eyes as He waits for us to reply with the truth of our sin?

We are coming to Jesus last days on earth. Jesus confronts His betrayer, Judas, who has worked a deal with the locals to have Him arrested. What a reply, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?” What?! This is different than our response as children, but just as ridiculous. Wouldn’t you know if it was you? Mm. Maybe not. We are good at rationalizing our sin and/or denying it’s existence in us altogether.

Matthew 26, The Message

The Traitor
17 On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?”

18-19 He said, “Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.’” The disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal.

20-21 After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, he said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.”

22 They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?”

23-24 Jesus answered, “The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”

25 Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”

Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.”

DON’T PLAY GAMES…
I do not read in the gospels where Judas was really sorry for what He did. He was sorry for getting caught, regretful, so much so He killed himself…but he was not remorsefully sorry he did it. By this, I mean, did He ask for forgiveness? I will study this more to really understand Judas. But the fact remains Judas betrayed His Friend, Jesus, who could have been His Savior. He played dishonest games with our Lord right until the end. Would it have changed the outcome, no. But it might have changed the betrayer. Yes, this takes more thought and study!

WHAT ABOUT US?
We must evaluate our lives by daily asking, It isn’t me, is it? Am I playing games with you Jesus? Am I just talking big but walking small? Our pastor challenged us this Sunday with a bigger question and a prayer to pray for every day of this year…Am I in-sync with God, the Father? If things in our lives are not making sense, maybe we are out of sync with what God wants for us. His best.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Today I want to avoid the sin that often entangles me, and I desire to see clearly the righteous acts that You would have me to do. I pray that you would strengthen my faith as I focus on You, and that You would give me the wisdom to align my priorities properly. I want my heart to be in sync with Your heart, so help me to sow righteousness in all that I do today! In the powerful Name of Jesus, I pray! Amen.