Spy Wednesday

We love the idea of a black-and-white world. We tell ourselves, "Bad people are simply bad people... unlike us." Lex Luthor, Voldemort, Thanos, and Judas Iscariot, are all villains that we prefer to keep as two-dimensional characters. But Judas's betrayal of Jesus did not occur in a moment of sudden decision. Like all spiritual decline, it was a gradual process, one marked by small choices and internal compromises. Judas did not wake up one day and decide to hand Jesus over to the authorities. Instead, he allowed his love for money and worldly gain to grow, poisoning his heart. The seeds of betrayal were sown long before that fateful night when he agreed to sell Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

Jesus was no stranger to the subtle dangers of idolatry. Judas, as one of the twelve, had walked with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and heard His teachings. Yet, Judas’ heart began to shift. His trust in Jesus was replaced with a growing attachment to material wealth and power. We see a hint of this in John 12 when Judas complains about the expensive perfume Mary poured on Jesus’ feet. He wasn’t concerned about the poor, as he pretended, but was upset because the money could have been his. Money had become an idol, and in his pursuit of it, he allowed it to shape his decisions, leading him down a path of spiritual ruin.

Tim Keller once shared a story about a student who came to him, claiming to no longer believe in God. Instead of launching into an apologetic debate, Keller simply asked, “Who are you sleeping with?” The student admitted to sin, and through that conversation, began his journey back to repentance. Judas, however, never made that return. His idolatrous love of money led him to betray Jesus. Apostasy doesn’t happen overnight. It is a gradual drift, often driven by the subtle allure of idols, whether money, fame, or anything else that distracts from wholehearted devotion to Christ. Be on guard!

Prayer: Lord, guard my heart from the slow drift that leads me away from You, and expose the idols I’ve allowed to take root. Teach me to recognize the subtle compromises that pull my devotion from Your feet to lesser things. Keep me from the path of Judas, and instead lead me daily in repentance, humility, and love. You are worth far more than silver, success, or comfort—help me to live like it.