Scripture to Read: Luke 22:3–6
Some things in Scripture are often hard to understand because we can only view things from our past. We have no idea what will happen throughout our day until we live it. We also don’t know what tomorrow brings, but God is omniscient, for He knows the past, present, and future. God sees and knows everything. So, God had Luke record this in Luke 22:3–6, “And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. 4 And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. 5 They were glad and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.” Jesus loved and chose Judas (John 6:70) just like He did the other eleven disciples. But Judas never chose to surrender to Christ as Lord. Judas willfully chose to reject Christ, and since he did, his heart was opened to being filled by Satan. God knew what Judas would do because He had David record this prophecy in Psalm 41:9, again showing God’s omniscience. What is so sad is that Judas was in the presence of Jesus for three years, but He never encountered Jesus. Every Sunday, people in churches all over the world come into the presence of Jesus through the preaching of His Word and by being around followers of Christ. But far too many never encounter Jesus, allowing Him to transform them from death to life.
Challenge & Application
Why was Judas so easily accessible to Satan and used by Satan to carry out his evil plan?
How can we help people who settle for being in Jesus’s presence but never surrender to Him?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!