April 16, 2025

SIN ALWAYS COST MORE THAN WE THINK

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

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 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

The Wednesday before Easter is often referred to as Spy Wednesday. Many believe this is the day that Judas went to the chief priests and agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. 

While Judas was doing his act of deception many believe Jesus used this day as a day of rest in Bethany. In some timelines this is the time that Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. (This story is in John 12). Judas is recorded as criticizing this act of extravagant worship as being wasteful. John says Judas said this because of greed in his heart.

What we see on this day is the power of hidden sin. I have often reflected on Judas. How does one fall from being one of the chosen 12 apostles to being a betrayer? How could one see all the miracles and hear all the teaching of Jesus and then turn out so horrible that he commits suicide?

Sin always begins small. Perhaps Judas took a little money from the group treasury for some personal needs with full intention to pay it back. Perhaps there were little fudges in his bookkeeping and little white lies about his behavior. Somehow greed got a foothold in his heart.

Sin will always take us further than we want to go, keep us longer than we want to stay, and cost us more than we want to pay. I don’t believe Judas thought on the day he was invited to be a disciple that he would be capable of betraying Jesus. But he did.

Mary serves as a contrast between betrayal and worship. She is giving her most prized possession to pour out on the feet of Jesus as worship while Judas is bargaining for 30 pieces of silver. 

Through the betrayal and the worship God is working His sovereign plan. God can work all things together to accomplish His work on the earth. 

Let’s choose on this Wednesday to be people of worship not betrayal. Let’s choose to invite the Holy Spirit to inspect our hearts for any hidden sins that are growing. Let’s go all in on worship.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit please inspect my heart and reveal any hidden sin that is growing in my life. Cleanse me today. I choose to be a person of worship. I choose to declare Jesus is my Lord and Savior. 

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”