Yesterday, we continued in our message series, HONOROLOGY. Yesterday’s message was titled, “The Kiss of Judas.“ I’ll have to admit, this was a very difficult message to preach. The more I studied the life and the decisions of Judas, the more I saw myself in them. It was very sobering, to say the least.
I’ve concluded that the essence in the character of Judas was DISHONOR. It defined him. The only way he had the gall to steal money from Jesus’ ministry, without thinking of consequences, was because of DISHONOR. And robbery is only the beginning; dishonor leads people down paths of unimaginable derogation! As a pastor, I’ve seen its devastating effect in the lives of men, women, children and marriages.
HONOR can only come from the heart and is expressed by our words and actions. But yet, DISHONOR is expressed in the same manner. They both originate from the heart. Before Judas was a liar, thief and betrayer, he treated that which was holy and perfect with contempt and sought to leverage self gain from it. Dishonor is simply the deception of where value and esteem is supposed to be placed. Dishonor points to self, honor points to God and others.
We must be watchful and make sure that we not fall prey to the lures of dishonor. Its deception is overwhelming and its justification is irresistible. We all have the tendency to be a “Judas.” For we all have betrayed our master with a kiss for our own gain and our own pleasure.
Lord, help us all… May we fall on your mercy and receive your grace!
