The Bible teaches the concept of helping others even when they can’t help you back through verses like Luke 6:30-31, which says “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back” and Matthew 5:42, stating “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”.
Key points from these verses:
- Unconditional giving: The Bible encourages giving freely to those in need, regardless of whether they can reciprocate.
- Love your enemies: Jesus taught to do good to those who may not be kind to you in return.
- Expect no reward: The motivation for helping others should be based on genuine compassion, not the expectation of getting something in return.
Jesus signed His death warrant! The Word of God knew exactly who, how, and inexplicably (greed/love of money…) Judas did what he did! Jesus, at the last supper allowed Judas take leave to collect his ‘pay’ for betrayal
Yes, Jesus allowed Judas Iscariot to leave the Last Supper to collect his payment for betraying Jesus – 30 pieces of silver!
Explanation
- Before the Last Supper, Judas agreed to betray Jesus to the chief priests in exchange for 30 pieces of silver.
- During the Last Supper, Jesus predicted that one of his disciples would betray him.
- Judas left the table and went to the Roman authorities.
- Judas led the authorities to Jesus in Gethsemane, where he identified Jesus with a kiss.
The 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave at that time in history. Essentially, we can conclude that it made no sense! Greed/being ‘fed-up’ with Christ… The statement
Jesus said it would have been better for Judas if he had never been born, as stated in Matthew 26:24. This statement is a warning about the consequences of rejecting Christ and the importance of faith and repentance.
Explanation
- In Matthew 26:24, Jesus says, “It would be far better for him if he had never been born!” in reference to the person who betrays the Son of Man.
- This statement is hyperbolic and underscores the severity of Judas’ actions.
- It reflects the sorrow and loss of turning away from the source of life and salvation.
- It serves as a warning about the eternal consequences of sin.
- It calls believers to examine their own hearts and remain committed to following Christ.
You can read the full verse in the Bible at:
- Matthew 26:24: “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born”.
To contrast, Peter for fear of being recognized as one of the 12 disciples, rejected knowing/following/being associated with Jesus. Not one, not twice, but three times! And Jesus, Who knows all things had predicted the denials of Peter before the cocktail crew, and so it happened! But, Peter was struck with guilt for his fear and repented
Jesus predicted Peter’s denial of Him during the Last Supper. This prediction appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
In the Gospels
- Matthew 26:33–35 Jesus tells Peter that he will deny him three times before the rooster crows. Peter insists he will never deny Jesus, even if it means dying with him.
- Luke 22:33–34 Jesus tells Peter that he will deny him three times before the rooster crows. Peter denies Jesus to a servant girl and someone else.
- Mark 14:29–31 Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him three times.
- John 13:36–38 Jesus tells his disciples that he will be going away and coming back to them. He says that if they loved him, they would be glad that he was going to the Father.
Peter’s denial
- Peter denied Jesus three times outside the court while Jesus was on trial before the Sanhedrin.
- Peter was afraid Jesus would die, and he was also afraid for his own life.
The contrast:
The key contrast between Judas and Peter is that while both betrayed Jesus, Judas did so out of greed and with a deliberate plan to hand Jesus over for money, while Peter denied Jesus out of fear, and later repented and was forgiven, becoming a central figure in the early Church, whereas Judas took his own life due to overwhelming guilt and despair; essentially, Judas’ betrayal was seen as a calculated act of treachery, while Peter’s was a moment of weakness that he later sought forgiveness for.
Key points of contrast:
- Motivation: Judas betrayed Jesus for personal gain (30 pieces of silver), while Peter denied Jesus out of fear for his own safety.
- Repentance: Judas showed no remorse and took his own life after betraying Jesus, while Peter deeply regretted his denial and sought forgiveness from Jesus.
- Outcome: Judas’ betrayal led to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, while Peter’s denial, though significant, was followed by repentance and a restored relationship with Jesus.
- Legacy: Judas is remembered primarily for his treachery and is often seen as a symbol of betrayal, while Peter is considered a key leader in the early Christian Church, known for his faith and commitment to Jesus despite his moment of weakness.
Psalm 139:16 in the Bible says that God has recorded every day of a person’s life in a book, even before they were born.
Explanation
- Psalm 139:16 says that God saw a person before they were born and recorded every day of their life in a book.
- The verse also says that God planned how many days a person would live and wrote down that number in the book before the person was born.
- The verse suggests that God is always working on behalf of people he loves, and that he is active and not passive.
Other Bible verses that relate to stories include:
- Hebrews 10:7: “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book”
- 1 Corinthians 10:11: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition”
Have you ever had something worm its way into your head that you just can’t get out? I’ve had that over the last few months, and the more I talk to people about it the more I’m convinced I need to get it out. Not just for you, but for me. Because I need this message more than anyone.
Here’s the simple version: Your story is still being written. Simple enough, right?
Now here’s the longer version: Sometimes we get so distraught about the chapters that have been written in and about our lives that we let them distract us from what’s to come. We are so ashamed of what’s happened in the past that we let it define our future. We bury ourselves in shame or grief or pain that we come to believe that’s all the future holds.
We lock in on our past and get locked in by our past. All at the expense of our future.But I have news for you: You’re not writing your story. God is. And He’s not done. Listen, I’ve done some things I’m not proud of. And can I be real honest with you? I’ve done all those things as a Christian. I’ve been a Christian for most of my life, which means that all those things I’ve done that I look back on and shudder took place while I was following Jesus. I’ve said things I’m not proud of.
I’ve done things I’m not proud of. I’ve not been the person I ultimately want to be. Just ask my wife. And it all happened while professing a faith in Jesus Christ. Why do I tell you that? Because following Jesus isn’t some magical formula where all the sudden you’re filled with all the right words and all the right desires. No, not at all. When you begin to follow Jesus – and continue to do so – you actually become more aware of your failures and shortcomings. And you grow to detest them even more.
In a way, then, that remorse over those past chapters in your life is actually a sign that something deeper, something good, is going on inside of you. Think about it: The addict who has no regrets and makes every excuse for his or her actions isn’t on a good trajectory. They’re on a path to more destructive behavior.
We actually see this in the Bible. One of that book’s greatest figures and writers is a guy named Paul. He struggled with this very thing. Here’s how he explained it: I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.If Paul, arguably the greatest biblical author, struggled with doing what he doesn’t want to do, I have news for you: You’re going to struggle, too. That’s not discouraging, that’s encouraging! Why? Because it means that there’s hope despite your story’s ugliest chapters. Paul had some really ugly chapters in his life. Even though he became one of the greatest, most faithful, Christians of all time, he used to kill Christians. That was his job. He had an incredible conversion, no doubt, but his past was messy. And even despite that conversion he still struggled with doing what he knew was right.
There’s a fancy word in the Christian faith for all of this. It’s called “sanctification.” A while back I talked about this term in another article. Instead of reinventing that explanation, here’s what I said back then that is still relevant here: That word can be a little intimidating, but here’s what it means. It’s simply the idea that we’re not yet what we will one day be in Christ, but we are more than what we were before him. In other words, living Second is a process, a journey. We strive to live Second, to live like Jesus said to live, but there are bumps along the way.
There are explosions, sometimes of spectacular proportion. And yet it’s all so beautiful when we view them in light of that process. That doesn’t mean those hiccups are fun. The time you let the alcohol control you, the mistake you made that ended your last relationship, or the thing you said that cost you your job can and will sting. But once you start viewing those things in light of what they are teaching you, and how God is using them to do so, they don’t control you.
If that’s true, then we need to stop placing our identities in our failures. Should we learn from them? Absolutely. But we can’t wallow in them. We can have remorse while also having resolve. Friend, you’re going through a process. During that process, you’re going to look back on things you did last year or even yesterday and shudder. That’s actually good. That’s healthy. But the problem comes when we view those mistakes as defining. When we view them as limiting what God can do and will do with us.
One of the many beauties of Jesus is that he’s constantly calling us to something better, and he’s given us what’s called the Holy Spirit to help us. While you may think you have messed up your story, the truth is he’s still working. Still writing. Have you messed up? Most definitely.
Have you messed up so much that God can’t still use you? Absolutely not. The great author is writing a story with you. Remember that. Embrace it. While your past is part of you, it isn’t you. Draw closer to the ultimate author and I think you’ll eventually step back and be amazed at what he’s writing not just for you but with you. I know I need to hear that. I think you probably do, too.
I
was always a curious child, and this curiosity gave birth to a bad reading habit. When I was about a quarter of the way into a novel — about where I would start becoming invested in the characters — I would impatiently flip to the end of the book to find out how the story ends.
My eyes would quickly search for any clues that would reveal if the main characters would eventually survive or die, fall in love or find whatever it is they were searching for. I wanted to know ahead of time how the mysteries would be solved, and if I could expect a happy ending or not. After discovering how the story ended, I would flip back to where I left off. My curiosity assuaged, the anticipation gone.
How Will Your Story End?
I find that I do this less often with books now, but still attempt to treat life that way. As a single woman at thirty, I wonder whether I will eventually get married, or if it is God’s will for me to remain single. Not yet knowing the answer, I just want to flip to the right page to find out. As my parents continue getting older, I wonder how much time I have left with them. It would be great to know now if nonbelievers whom I love and have witnessed to for years will one day believe.
I find myself, like a detective, looking right and left for signs and clues for what will happen. How is this story going to end?
I just want to read the end of the book already, and avoid all of the in-between chapters that seem so long. It’s as if, like Eve, I believe the enemy’s lie that God is withholding something from me that I “need.” I need to know. I need just one bite. I need just one peek at the last few pages of the story.
The Point of Every Chapter
That’s not how it works, writes Paul Tripp. We do not need to know everything we think we need to know.
Thankfully I am not the author of my own personal story. Your story isn’t an autobiography either. Your story is a biography of wisdom and grace written by another. Every turn he writes into your story is right. Every twist of the plot is for the best. Every new character or unexpected event is a tool of his grace. Each new chapter advances his purpose. (New Morning Mercies)
By God’s grace, I am learning that in these in-between chapters, character development takes place. He’s teaching me trust, patience, and how to wait on him through the unknown. Just like with fictional characters, unexpected twists and turns and trials come into our lives, many of them being entirely out of our control. But the author always knows how the story is going to end before the characters do.
The Author of Your Faith
When I fix my eyes back on Jesus, I recall that he is the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2), and will lead me to a beautiful destination — a destination that will bring him glory. I have no need to anxiously distrust him and fear what is written in my chapters ahead. I can rely on his faithfulness as a Shepherd to guide me to the end. I can depend on him, because I know that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
I desire to one day say with a thankful heart what John Piper once wrote: “In all these years, the grace of God had driven me deeper into God in desperation, rather than driving me away from God in anger” (Future Grace). As my story continues, I want to testify through to the very last chapter that, even though impatience tried its best to take a hand at writing my story, all of the in-between chapters of waiting developed me and deepened my Love and reliance for God, my Author.