then when judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “i have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” they said, “what is that to us? see to it yourself.” and throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. [matt 27:3-5]
sin – is our attempt to stand before holy God and tell him to bend a knee to our desires, our will, our glory – our desire to be god.
Godly grief – is a gift of the Spirit to bring us to our knees in repentance and worship of the only true and holy God.
judas had no Godly grief. he had sorrow. he had pity. he had hopelessness. but, he had no Godly grief. his own despair and grief led to more death, his own. God’s grief that comes from the Spirit leads to life. today, by the kindness and mercy of God’s Spirit – choose life. turn to Jesus. please, turn now!
today, i pray for Godly grief for you and i. i pray we are drawn to our knees by the Spirit of the living God who longs for us to be in the only true position we were made for – at the feet of Jesus. what needs to be turned from in grief and sadness, so you can turn to the beautiful and powerful Savior? what must be let go, so you can grab hold of Jesus? what must be allowed to die the death of sin, so you can live in the life of Jesus? turn now …
o soul, are you weary and troubled?
no light in the darkness you see?
there’s light for a look at the Savior,
and life more abundant and free!
turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of His glory and grace. – Helen H. Lemmel
~ john ryan