It is not an easy thing to be found faithful in this walk with Christ. We will be tested again and again to see where our loyalty does lie. We may think with all of our hearts that we have done well until Christ Jesus shows us where we’ve unknowingly partnered with the devil.

Within every human heart is the desire for justice. Justice that exposes wrongs said and done in secret. Wrongs that wound the heart almost beyond repair. Wrongs that leave devastating consequences. Wrongs that are justified as right.

Yet, I’ve been asking God most often for a grace-filled heart to be able, like David, to pass up all chances to take revenge into my own hands in any given situation. This will remain one of our greatest lessons of the heart. It shows our nearness to the Father, or lack thereof.

I am reminded of Jesus having dinner with His friends. Judas was there. He knew what was in the heart of Judas. He knew a betrayal was stirring. He knew of unseen conversations being had.

There is nothing quite like a kiss of betrayal. It’s like the ultimate deception. A kiss is completely contrary to one quietly lending to the demise of another. But Jesus knew….and often so do we.

I didn’t see Jesus try to talk Judas out of it or even try to win him over. Yet, I know Jesus had to have grieved over Judas. It must have been so difficult to look across the table at one you loved dearly and know it wasn’t going to matter in the least when push came to shove. There had been an agreement made with the devil.

But Jesus went on to be found faithful. In the midst of betrayals and backbiting. In the midst of unbelief and constant false accusations. In the midst of constant ploys to derail Him, He continued His mission from Heaven and He did it with compassion.

You, and I, will face many of these scenarios as well. The test will be whether we can keep the heart of Christ in the midst of it all and be found faithful, nonetheless.

I have found myself over the years praying the words of Jesus as He hung before the angry crowd…the very ones He was sent to heal and help.

“Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do…”

Even in His last breathes He was found faithful in love.

May we be found faithful in love also.