Tuesday, April 4 – John 12:4-6

But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it.

Have you ever been in such a bad mood that you can’t see anything in a positive light? Even things universally seen as positive, like sunshine, can irritate us on a tough day. The attitudes we bring to life every day affect us more than we like to think. On one hand, we think it is easy to put on a good face when we come in the church doors by suppressing the pain we are wrestling with or giving shallow answers in small groups while we secretly struggle with sin. Over time, it is easy to become jaded and cynical like Judas. Part the value in Mary’s sacrifice was her authenticity. Her heart was open to Jesus, showing Him her true devotion. Even in his criticism, Judas withheld his true intentions of selfishness and greed.

After facing the struggles of life, it can grow easier to be like Judas. We can become critical, looking so hard for the flaws in the things around us that we miss the sin growing like weeds in our hearts. We can fool other people for some time, and we can even fool ourselves for a while, but we can never fool our heavenly Father. He knows our hearts. As we approach the sacred celebration of Easter, take a long inward look at where your heart is. Whether you are affirmed in your relationship with Jesus or become convicted by deep sin that you have been trying to run from, you can approach your heavenly Father with confidence. Through Jesus we can be restored and transformed when we run to God openly and honestly, recognizing our need for Him.

• Where have you let bitterness grow in your heart? How does that affect the way you see the world?
• When was the last time you prayed about and assessed the motives of your heart? How will you do so today?
• Pray and ask God to open your eyes to areas you may be allowing bitterness to blind you from what He is doing.