What's Your Price?

What’s Your Price?


“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


I read a post on social media yesterday that asked the question, “what’s your 30 pieces of silver?” Obviously the question was in reference to Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus disciples who betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. The reference to the post went on to say something like, “what besetting sin are you allowing to remain in your life?” As I read it my own heart was convicted as I recalled the gospel story regarding Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. I took the message of the meme to say, “is there any sin in your life worth denying Jesus for because in the truest sense when we allow sin to remain in our lives unchecked and even worse, un-repented its just as bad as Judas selling out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas was remorseful over what he had done and though he tried to give the money back he ended up so distraught he went out and hung himself. Judas paid the ultimate price for his betrayal.

In John’s gospel where he writes about the details of the Last Super we read, “Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!” The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean.” As I read the account I realize each of the disciples felt like Jesus was speaking of them. They knew full well as we all should, “for the grace of God go I”. Like the disciples around the table any of us is capable of betraying the Lord. JC Ryle said it best, “There is something even in our best woks that desperately needs to be pardoned.” It's true and why I appreciate what the apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:1-2, “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

One of my favorite pastors has a saying, “sin will keep you from the Bible and the Bible will keep you from sin.” The psalmist writes, “how can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word.” We will never be sinless this side of heaven but we most certainly can with the Lord’s help sin less as we look to God and draw close to Him. To prevent from selling the Lord out like Judas did we need to commit each day to selling ourselves out to and for the Lord, and the best way to do that is to say like the apostle Paul…

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

I LOVE YOU!

Michael Osthimer

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