Controlling the Smallest Member
Judas Iscariot was in charge of the money box, and he paid bribes to the Roman authorities. He made a deal with them to sell Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus shared his last meal with his friends, the disciples, before the time of his death. Simon Peter asked Jesus a very important question. He asked Jesus if he had the words of eternal life. He told Jesus that He believed that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus began to talk with his friends. He told them that one of the twelve was a devil. Jesus told Peter that He would deny him three times before the cock would crow. Peter was warming himself by the fire because it was cold when Jesus told him that He was going to deny him. The Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus. The first reaction that Simon Peter had was to fight with his sword on that particular day. He was ready for whomever was going to hurt his friend. The high priest’s servant, Malchus, was trying to help arrest Jesus. Simon Peter was so angry that he turned to Malchus and cut off his right ear with the sword. Jesus scolded Peter for this violent behavior. He told him to put his sword in the sheath. Jesus reached over to Malchus and healed his ear. This all happened when Jesus was being led out to be crucified. Jesus didn’t show any kind of violence because He was surrendering to the will of the Lord. We all have said things that we shouldn’t have. Our words are like a dart into someone else’s heart. None of us can control the smallest member of our bodies. We can bless someone or curse someone with our words. Our words will never die; what we say will always come to pass. We all have been around people that are so unkind. They don’t care whose life they may damage. It’s not up to me or you to be their judge. We have only one judge. One day the book will be opened, and everything we have said or done will be in that book. The presence of Satan is trying to destroy lives even if he has to use other people to do it.’’ Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand’’ (Ephesians 6:11-13) People are letting the enemy use them, and, even though it sounds strange, it’s the truth. If we give in to the enemy one time, he will begin to drive us to do wicked things. All we have to do is turn the television on or read the newspaper, and we will see that the enemy has taken over people. The enemy is here to destroy us all. Judas Iscariot was called to be a disciple, but he couldn’t let go of the carnal nature of this world. It cost him his very own soul.
