It’s crazy to think that Jesus loved Judas SO well that NONE of the disciples could guess that Judas was the one who was going to betray Jesus. None of them. They were all like, “Who’s it going to be Lord? I don’t know.”
They had no clue because of how equally Jesus displayed his love for all His disciples, including the one who He knew would betray Him.
I’ll be honest with you. I don’t know how to love like that, I really don’t.
If I’m being real with you, I even struggle to love my own family members with that level of love. They grate on my nerves sometimes and it causes me to lash out when I should be patient.
But even though that type of love will never come naturally to me, I do believe that with the Holy Spirit of Christ inside of me, I can get closer and closer to that.
I believe you can, too.
I really encourage you to ask Him to grant you the strength to love like that.
We have to remind ourselves that it’s God’s kindness that draws people to repentance. That’s what the Bible says in Romans: “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)
Perhaps you have a “difficult-to-love” person in your life. I want to gently remind you that we will never come up with the best words or even the best argument that will finally help someone see their need for a Savior. And it won’t be our arguments or words alone that finally help someone see their need to repent.
No, we are truly reliant upon God. It will be God’s kindness that changes people’s hearts.
I think that’s why Jesus gave those opportunities to Judas over and over again to experience His type of love.
He washed Judas’ feet. He broke bread with him. He allowed him to sit at his feet and learn from him.
Even though I don’t have many things figured out, I do believe we would look a lot more like Christ if we loved people like Jesus loved Judas.
Who in your life is God prompting you to love more holistically? Can you pray for them now? Can you ask God for the strength to love and forgive them the way He loved Judas?
Til Next Time,
Liz
Prefer this content in video format? Watch this 1 minute reel where I talk about Judas here:
Need strength to help you love like Christ? Memorize, in 2 minutes, Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you do not fear I will help you.”:
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