Daily Devotional for Friday, May 15
Judas Betrayed Jesus
“But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48.
There is an old idiom that says, adding insult to injury. This means to do or say something that makes a bad situation even worse for someone. Judas had already made a deal with the chief priests to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Judas, the betrayer, had arranged a signal by which he would identify Jesus to the men who would arrest Him when the time was right. Adding insult to injury, Judas had decided that the signal would be a kiss. The New Testament uses the phrase “holy kiss.” A “holy kiss” was used in a respectful and loving greeting between friends and family. This kiss often expressed affection and fellowship without any sexual intent. Judas took something holy and made it unholy.
Like Judas, we too can betray Jesus and then take something holy and make it unholy. Because of our culture, we are susceptible to bringing consumerism into the churches. Consumerism in the church is manifest when churchgoers prioritize their own preferences and the churches are seen as a provider of products and services. This mentality can lead to “church shopping.” Churches and their leaders become so sensitive to this that an unhealthy emphasis can be placed on pleasing people and gaining their approval. Consequently, we often add insult to injury by feigning affection for God in an outward show of worship when we are actually more concerned whether we have said and done the right things to make people want to come back.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Consumerism seeks to please people. Christlikeness seeks to please God.
Jonathon D. Smith