Living Among Holy Things
Daily Devotion for Lent | Friday, March 22
They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”
Matthew 27:4
What kind of men are these? Though they are priests—chief priests!—they seem to feel no shame at all about offering silver to Judas to betray his master. I hope they at least had the decency not to use money that came out of the temple offerings!
And when Judas shows up later, full of remorse, and tries to undo the betrayal, they answer him with one of the most cold-blooded replies on record: “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” They offered no hope, no mercy, nothing to hang on to—and Judas went and hanged himself. Did they know? Did they care?
The priests are scary. Not because they are villains, but because they manage to be what they are while spending all their lives around holy things, serving in the very temple of the Lord. My mind can’t process that. How is it possible for a man to walk from “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” just a few dozen steps to a meeting that ends up with “What is that to us? See to it yourself!” ?
It scares me the more because as a Christian, I too spend my life among holy things. I read the Bible. I go to church. I take communion. And I don’t want to end up like these men, arguing over blood money in the midst of holiness.
But only one thing can prevent that—and that’s if Jesus is actually living in me, holy in the midst of my unholiness. Nothing short of that can protect me. Nothing short of that can protect you.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians,“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). This is our protection. Because we are His temple, God guards us jealously from the attacks of the devil. Jesus lay down His life to make us God’s holy and everlasting possession. The one who died and rose for us will keep us safe—and holy—in His hands.
THE PRAYER
Dear Father, keep me holy and safe from evil in Your hands. Amen.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- What “holy things” do you live among on a daily or weekly basis?
- When have you been surprised by evil in a holy place or situation?
- How do you guard against having a hardened heart like those of the chief priests?
Brought to you in partnership with Lutheran Hour Ministries – lhm.org/lent
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PEOPLE OF THE PASSION Lenten Devotions 2019
Centuries before Christ, God was preparing the way for His Son’s arrival. From mankind’s original sin through the children of Israel’s on-again, off-again obedience, God was faithful, honoring His promise to Eve (Genesis 3:15), which first pointed to Jesus. In People of the Passion, we see God working through the lives of ordinary people to achieve His ultimate aim: our salvation. There are prophets, priests, and kings, servants, soldiers, and civilians—each with a role in the high drama of Christ’s passion. Readers may see themselves in some of these people—ordinary individuals who, like us, need a Savior.
Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) is a Christian outreach ministry supporting churches worldwide in its mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church.