Day 31

Be Still:  Dear Father, each of us has made very bad choices.  Thank you that through the blood of Jesus, when we confess our sins to You, You offer us forgiveness.  In Jesus’ name, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen

Be Strengthened:  Matthew 27:1-10

¹Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. ²They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

³When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. ⁴"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
"What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."

⁵So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

⁶The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money." ⁷So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, ¹⁰and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."

Be Stretched:  Yesterday we read about Peter’s denial.  In today’s passage, Judas was seized with remorse and killed himself.  What do you think might have happened if he had not done so?  Is there any sin so great that we cannot be forgiven?  Pray today for those persons who feel they have nowhere to turn except to take their own lives.  Ask our loving Father to reveal Himself to them and allow them to find a way back to Him.