Friday 29 Jan 2021

January 29: Matthew 26:47-50
 
Key Verse: Matthew 26:50
Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

Devotion:
I wonder what the disciples really went through in their hearts and minds during these few minutes when the crowd of people came to arrest Jesus. This was the man they had been following every move of for a few years and it was all about to come crashing down around them. I must say I could probably relate to the disciple who reached out with a sword instead of words – but Jesus quietened him and brought back the words.
 
One thing we often forget is Jesus reaching out to His betrayer, Judas, and calling Him friend one last time before being taken away and abused so horribly. When we think of the things we say and do in our lives, we often get caught up in the words and think Christ could never forgive us because we went that step too far even though we know Him...
 
But, even when we press one too many buttons and we kick the proverbial sand in Jesus eye, He is still willing to stop and look us in the face to say: friend. Jesus is willing to forgive us no matter what we do; and we need to remember that and depend on it too, believing He is going to call us friend and forgive us.
 
No matter what you have done in your past, no matter what you are doing right now in your life – if you step forward and ask Christ to forgive you, He will. He looks into your heart and not into your past. He looks forward and waits for what you can do with Him. And with Christ we can do anything!
 
Points to Ponder:
Are you standing scared before Christ?
 
Will you ask Him to forgive His friend - you?