JESUS IN THE HIGHEST PLACE

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. —Matthew 26:14-16

How much do you value Jesus? Is there anything that you think is more important or of more worth than He? If there is then that is your god, your idol. For Judas the betrayer 30 pieces of silver was more important to him than Jesus. It was the price of a gored slave— “If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death” (Exodus 21:32). It is true that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (I Timothy 6:10) as seen in the actions of Judas.

The Greatest Command is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). He is to be first priority in our lives. This was not the case in the life of Judas. Money was more important to him and we are told that “he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it” (John 12:6). He saw the community funds as a slush fund for himself.

Basically, we are either giving Jesus first place in our lives or we have some other self-centered something that we are elevating to first place— to that which is most important to us. It could be job, relationships, money, power positions, intellect, material possessions, sports, religion, drugs, clubs… The list could include anything that we see as more important than Jesus. But remember this. There is a day coming when everyone, regardless if they are willing or not, will bow the knee to Jesus and acknowledge who He is— “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). May we bow the knee to Him now as Lord and Savior and not as Judge after we die! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z_OoO_3suQ

Dear Father, may Your Son, Jesus, be exalted through His Church that many others would come to know You. May this be done in Jesus Name and in the Holy Spirit’s power.