Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus
There comes a time in each of our lives when we must choose between self-preservation and simply doing what is right. We will choose to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of a friend or give up what we want in order to gain what we truly need. It is in these times that we learn what we really value. Are we who we say we are? Do we stand for what we say we believe? We are defined by our actions, not our words. When the time comes for you to act, what will you do?
Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. It was a decent sum of money, enough to buy a piece of real estate (Matthew 27:3-10). It certainly wasn’t enough to set him up for life. He still was going to have to work for a living. Perhaps it would be easier to excuse his actions if he had been paid millions of dollars to betray his friend, not to mention the fact that this friend just happened to be the Son of God. Yet it only took thirty pieces of silver to convince Judas to turn away from the one he professed as Lord. We turn up our noses in disgust that such a small sum would entice Judas. It’s easy to say that we would never have done such a thing. Until, of course, we look at our own price for betrayal.
Every day begins pretty much the same as the last. For most of us, our lives are filled with routines that breed mediocrity and spiritual malaise. We go to bed too late, get up too early, eat the wrong kinds of food and go to work some place that is less than what we had always dreamed. Into this morass of anonymity we struggle to make a name for ourselves. If we’re really lucky, we might just do something significant for God along the way. Is this how life is supposed to be? Do you truly believe that it was to this that Jesus called you?
Maybe you’re different from me. Perhaps you accepted Christ and immediately began serving Him with all your heart and never looked back. If that’s your story, then I envy you. My life hasn’t worked out that way. Since accepting Christ it’s been a roller coaster of obedience and outright defiance. Some days are better than others; honestly, some years are better than others. I’ve seen growth, sometimes in small increments, sometimes in leaps and bounds. Throughout the majority of my days has been this uncomfortable thread of sin. No matter how committed I’ve attempted to become, disobedience always seems to creep back in. Can you relate?
I recently watched Nick Wallenda walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. Beyond the amazing spectacle of the feat, it held a special significance to me as I used to live only ten minutes away from where he walked across. I’ve seen the enormity of the rocks and heard the thunderous crash of the waters first hand. Having ridden a boat that carried me to the base of the falls, I am fully aware of the amount of mist he had to deal with during his crossing. All these things made the breathtaking event that much more intense and incredible to watch. Beyond all of this, I was struck by Nick’s faith and began thinking how life is essentially a tightrope. It is perilous as we walk along the narrow way; we face constant trials that threaten to knock us off balance and perhaps even push us to our death. Watching Nick Wallenda traverse the mighty falls, however, I noticed three key principles he followed that allowed him to accomplish his mission. We can apply these same principles to our walk with Jesus.