Et tu, brute?

Sometimes I wonder who it is that I should listen to.  How do you know who is telling you the truth, the whole truth, so help them God?  I’m a discerning person, but there are times when I go against my gut and believe what someone tells me, despite knowing in my knower that I shouldn’t. 

I’ve always poked fun at my mom because of her rose-colored glasses.  You know the person.  Always sees the best in other people, even after they’ve been abused.  I generally don’t trust people until they’ve proven themselves to me.  And once you prove yourself untrustworthy…that’s it.  I’ll be nice, but I’ll keep you are an arm’s length.

But, of course, there are those exceptions.  You know.  The people who you innately know that you shouldn’t trust, but despite yourself, you continue to trust them. 

Where am I going with this?  Jesus had a person in his life that, from all appearances, was one of the men who was closest to him.  He was the one who kept the purse.  Perhaps you’ve heard of him.  Judas Iscariot.  Sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  Betrayed by a kiss. 

Jesus didn’t cut Judas out of his life.  Jesus knew that Judas had to fulfill his part of the prophesy.  Jesus knew that Judas’ actions had nothing to do with Judas and everything to do with what Jesus was placed on earth to do.  Jesus loved Judas through to the end. 

This is my challenge right now.  I know that God has placed certain people in my life for a reason.  God is building or shaping or tearing something out of my life.  I know that the world does not revolve around me, but I also know that every experience in my life has some purpose.  So, I am learning to live my life, loving the unlovely, loving the lovely, loving people who need love, not only the people who crave love.

Technorati Tags: God moment, friends