Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Luke 6:16, “Judas, the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

Background

I have had to serve on jury duty just once. I received the standard notice in the mail and made the call the night before I was to serve to see if my number was in the necessary range. It was, so I headed to the courthouse in hopes of being passed over for my civic duty. As we sat in the courtroom, the lawyers interviewed possible jurors, choosing some while eliminating others. Eleven had been selected, and they needed just one more. When the last spot was filled, it happened to not be me. And I was just about to let out a sigh of relief, when one of the lawyers heard something he didn’t like, and dismissed one of the jurors. And much to my dismay, the next thing I hear is my name being called. A couple questions later, I’m part of the jury, and the trial is on its way. When Luke tells us here of Jesus selecting His twelve apostles, he lists their names for us, completing the list with Judas, “who became a traitor.” Now I try not to read too much into the coincidence that Judas and I were the last ones named. But I am well aware that I could have been a traitor to justice that day.

Application

For once the trial began, I realized that the sheriff involved in this incident was the same one who had given me a ticket when I rolled my pickup truck a year or two earlier. And I had never agreed with the ticket or his attitude with me that night. And seeing him again reminded me of the injustice I had suffered, and gave me an amazing opportunity to pay him back. At least that’s what my mind saw. But as I wrestled back and forth with listening to the facts of this case and reliving my experience with that sheriff, the trial was settled out of court during our lunch break, and I never got the chance to cast my black ball. But if I had, what if the lawyer somehow knew my motives, but chose me anyway? What if he knew my grudge against the sheriff would cost him the case? What if it would cost him his life? Jesus knew, and He chose Judas anyway. Amazing. It’s just amazing, the grace, the love, the … grace. I guess we are traitors. Traitors saved by grace.

Charge

As we seek Him today, thank God for casting His justice in the direction of His Son, while burying us in His grace and forgiveness. See if that gives you a different attitude for the course of your day.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words