Profit and Loss - Sell Out
When Judas, who had betrayed [Jesus], saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” (Matthew 27:3-4).
Heavenly Father, God of unfailing love, it is amazing that the Word of God, the Son of God, became flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1:14).
Thank You, Father, that the One You sent to bind up the broken-hearted (Isaiah 61:1) is One who is Himself familiar with pain/acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). Thank You that He understands the deep wounds, the searing pain of betrayal—the kind expressed with raw emotion by King David:
My heart is in anguish within me...If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it...But it is you...my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship…My companion attacks his friends... His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords (Psalm 55:4, 12-14, 20-21).
Our Father, in the pain of treachery and disloyalty, we take heart from knowing that our Lord Jesus Himself experienced the deep, destructive cuts from the drawn swords of betrayal. As with David, they were from a friend who shared His bread, His companionship, His prayers. A friend who initiated the ultimate sellout to religious rulers.
Lord, even as we struggle to understand the complex motives of greed, envy, and bitterness—the warped measures of profit and loss that elevate money, material gain, and selfish ambition over friendship, family relationships, and ties that bind, we know that You can bring good out of evil.
Although Judas' treachery led to the cross and the cruel crucifixion of our Lord—yet You were working for the ultimate good in Your divine master plan for bringing many sons and daughters to glory (Hebrews 2:10).
And although Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery for twenty shekels of silver (Genesis 37:28), yet the Lord was with him (Genesis 39:21) through all the hardship and pain. In the end, he was able to tell his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done..." (Genesis 20:50).
O Father, we lift up our prayers for all of our relationships. Keep us free from greed, from attachments to material goods, and from the love of money that could cause us to wound, and hurt, and betray. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:10).
And for those who have hurt us, Lord, we pray. We pray that, as with Joseph, as with David, as with the Lord Jesus, You would direct all outcomes, and bring good out of evil. Give us the reassurance of David when he said, "Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and [God] hears my voice" (Psalm 55:17). Help us to come to the ultimate place of peace where we can say, "But as for me, I trust in You" (Psalm 55:23).
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