Daily Bible Reading - August 25, 2017

Today's Reading:

John 6:60-70

1 Chronicles 25-26

Zechariah 11

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Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading   

There is an amazing passage in John chapter 6. It is one that merits a closer look:

John 6:64 "But there are some of you that believe not. For Yahshua knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him."

Yahshua had 12 disciples. These were specially chosen people, who were being prepared to carry on the Kingdom Work, even after Yahshua had ascended. But among the 12 was one - Judas - who would betray Him. The fact that Judas (and Peter) would betray Christ didn't keep Him from loving them, teaching them, and doing all that Heaven could do to reach them. Now, in Peter's case, all the love, prayers, and effort paid off. After he betrayed Messiah, by denying Him at the trial, Peter repented and ultimately became one of the pillars of the early Christian Church.

The other betrayer was Judas... Judas didn't repent. Judas ended up committing suicide. Ultimately, all the love, prayers, and effort expended for Judas was insufficient to save him. How sad! But the part I find truly remarkable is that Christ still did it! As it says in John 6:64, He knew from the beginning how Judas would turn out. Yet, Christ still invested the same effort into saving him - even making him one of the 12 apostles! Why did Messiah "waste" His time and efforts on Judas, when He knew from the beginning how it would all turn out? 

The reason is simple: "God is not willing that any should perish." Every soul is precious to Yahweh. And in the End, no one will be able to turn to God and say, "I didn't have a chance! You didn't care enough about me to even try." 

Yahweh puts in the effort to save every soul - even knowing ahead of time, whether they will accept or reject Him! What a wonderful God!

I have also faced this issue. The question has come up of whether or not we should try to help and pray for someone, considering that they have fallen, gotten free in Christ, and fallen again... The cycle continued for years. Observing this, some friends asked my husband and me, "Why do you keep getting involved? Can't you see it's useless?"

But the answer for us was also simple. What did Yahshua do? He is the Saviour Who reached out to Judas, knowing how it would turn out. Can we - His followers - do any less as we labor for lost souls? I think not. Let's pray to have Heaven's love for people.

2 Peter 3:9 "Yahweh is not slack concerning His Promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."