Embedded Files
In 1780, a plot was discovered during the American Revolutionary War that saved the American control of a key fort in New York. A major general of the army had a plan that would ensure the British ended up with control the fort, and was caught just before he could turn it over to the enemy. But the twist about this story is that the major general, who was planning on giving this fort to the British, was a part of the American army. He wasn’t a brilliant British strategist, or a tactical commander for them. He was an American major general, a major general to whom George Washington had entrusted New Port to protect. But 20,000 euros was enough of an incentive to make this man, named Benedict Arnold, sacrifice his countrymen.
In 1780, a plot was discovered during the American Revolutionary War that saved the American control of a key fort in New York. A major general of the army had a plan that would ensure the British ended up with control the fort, and was caught just before he could turn it over to the enemy. But the twist about this story is that the major general, who was planning on giving this fort to the British, was a part of the American army. He wasn’t a brilliant British strategist, or a tactical commander for them. He was an American major general, a major general to whom George Washington had entrusted New Port to protect. But 20,000 euros was enough of an incentive to make this man, named Benedict Arnold, sacrifice his countrymen.
As I mentioned, the plot was discovered and Benedict Arnold was forced to flee from the American army (eventually joining the British army without subterfuge). But imagine what would’ve happened if the plan had succeeded. Imagine the consequences for the Revolutionary War if the fort had been surrendered. Benjamin Franklin is quoted to have said that he had betrayed three million men, in essence, the entire American army. And all for 20,000 euros.
As I mentioned, the plot was discovered and Benedict Arnold was forced to flee from the American army (eventually joining the British army without subterfuge). But imagine what would’ve happened if the plan had succeeded. Imagine the consequences for the Revolutionary War if the fort had been surrendered. Benjamin Franklin is quoted to have said that he had betrayed three million men, in essence, the entire American army. And all for 20,000 euros.
This story does strike a familiar tone, of course, within the church today. We know of another story, much older than this one, of another traitor who sacrificed something he professed to love…all for material gain. The full quote Benjamin Franklin gave about Benedict Arnold was: “Judas sold only one man, Arnold three million.” We know that Judas was paid 30 pieces of silver to betray his master with a kiss in the garden of Gethsemane. As a result, the account of Judas Iscariot will remain one of the most infamous stories of betrayal for years and years to come.
This story does strike a familiar tone, of course, within the church today. We know of another story, much older than this one, of another traitor who sacrificed something he professed to love…all for material gain. The full quote Benjamin Franklin gave about Benedict Arnold was: “Judas sold only one man, Arnold three million.” We know that Judas was paid 30 pieces of silver to betray his master with a kiss in the garden of Gethsemane. As a result, the account of Judas Iscariot will remain one of the most infamous stories of betrayal for years and years to come.
And yet the parallels between the story of Judas and the story of Benedict Arnold are interesting: both men held a loyalty to something they loved, with Arnold being named major general due to his military prowess, and Judas being named one of the twelve disciples by Jesus Christ Himself. Both had seen the promise of power within their chosen path, with Arnold being able to see the feats of the colonial army through George Washington, and Judas being able to see the amazing miracles and teachings of Jesus. And yet, somehow, both still chose to give up their loyalty for a wage.
And yet the parallels between the story of Judas and the story of Benedict Arnold are interesting: both men held a loyalty to something they loved, with Arnold being named major general due to his military prowess, and Judas being named one of the twelve disciples by Jesus Christ Himself. Both had seen the promise of power within their chosen path, with Arnold being able to see the feats of the colonial army through George Washington, and Judas being able to see the amazing miracles and teachings of Jesus. And yet, somehow, both still chose to give up their loyalty for a wage.
Matthew 26:14-16 read: “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”
Matthew 26:14-16 read: “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”
There’s something in these verses that not a lot of us think about: Judas found the price justifiable. It wasn’t as if he was willing to give Jesus up because he hated Jesus, he didn’t WANT to see Jesus on the cross. He said, “what are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” He evaluated the price they offered—thirty pieces of silver—and found it to be enough to betray his Lord.
There’s something in these verses that not a lot of us think about: Judas found the price justifiable. It wasn’t as if he was willing to give Jesus up because he hated Jesus, he didn’t WANT to see Jesus on the cross. He said, “what are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” He evaluated the price they offered—thirty pieces of silver—and found it to be enough to betray his Lord.
But this, unsurprisingly, isn’t the only time we find loyalty waning within the Bible for a price. Think of Acts 5, in which Ananias and Sapphira sold a portion of land but kept back part of the proceeds. They didn’t hate the church that we know of, they didn’t want to intentionally hurt the apostles. They simply saw those few extra wages as enough incentive to lie to the Holy Spirit. And for that reason, they were punished. Or 1 Kings 11, in which we see Solomon fall from faith due to marriage with paganistic women. He had spoken with God, had received wisdom from God, but was willing to give that up for the material pleasures of this world. And we could go on and on and on with accounts of people being shown the power of God, knowing that He’s real…and yet falling short of staying true to Him. Aaron, building the Golden Calf, Abraham having a son with Hagar, even Moses, striking the rock that God commanded him to speak to. There was a price to be paid for obedience in each of these instances, and none of these people wanted to pay that price.
But this, unsurprisingly, isn’t the only time we find loyalty waning within the Bible for a price. Think of Acts 5, in which Ananias and Sapphira sold a portion of land but kept back part of the proceeds. They didn’t hate the church that we know of, they didn’t want to intentionally hurt the apostles. They simply saw those few extra wages as enough incentive to lie to the Holy Spirit. And for that reason, they were punished. Or 1 Kings 11, in which we see Solomon fall from faith due to marriage with paganistic women. He had spoken with God, had received wisdom from God, but was willing to give that up for the material pleasures of this world. And we could go on and on and on with accounts of people being shown the power of God, knowing that He’s real…and yet falling short of staying true to Him. Aaron, building the Golden Calf, Abraham having a son with Hagar, even Moses, striking the rock that God commanded him to speak to. There was a price to be paid for obedience in each of these instances, and none of these people wanted to pay that price.
So this brings up a question: What about us? How does loyalty to God affect us today?
So this brings up a question: What about us? How does loyalty to God affect us today?
The reason that I find this topic important is because I believe that it often ends up overlooked. After all, we attend church service every Sunday and Wednesday, we take the Lord’s Supper, we study our Bibles at home, we’re loyal to God, right? And yet think about the accounts I’ve mentioned, and realize something: EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE KNEW FOR A FACT THAT GOD WAS REAL. Judas KNEW that Jesus had the power of God within Him. Ananias and Sapphira had SEEN the Holy Spirit descend onto the apostles. Abraham, Solomon, and Moses all SPOKE one-on-one directly to God. They knew He was real, knew He demanded obedience, and yet they still found themselves falling short. If these people, who were able to physically hear and see the power of God were able to turn their backs on Him, we in 2020 can certainly do the same thing.
The reason that I find this topic important is because I believe that it often ends up overlooked. After all, we attend church service every Sunday and Wednesday, we take the Lord’s Supper, we study our Bibles at home, we’re loyal to God, right? And yet think about the accounts I’ve mentioned, and realize something: EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE KNEW FOR A FACT THAT GOD WAS REAL. Judas KNEW that Jesus had the power of God within Him. Ananias and Sapphira had SEEN the Holy Spirit descend onto the apostles. Abraham, Solomon, and Moses all SPOKE one-on-one directly to God. They knew He was real, knew He demanded obedience, and yet they still found themselves falling short. If these people, who were able to physically hear and see the power of God were able to turn their backs on Him, we in 2020 can certainly do the same thing.
And we know that this is exactly what we’re seeing; more and more people are leaving the church every single day, never to return. And the statistics show that these are the younger generations that are leaving. Those who have been raised in the church, those who are supposed to be carrying the torch in the years to come. And yet more and more walk away.
And we know that this is exactly what we’re seeing; more and more people are leaving the church every single day, never to return. And the statistics show that these are the younger generations that are leaving. Those who have been raised in the church, those who are supposed to be carrying the torch in the years to come. And yet more and more walk away.
So my question for us today is: What is our price? What’s our breaking point, at what point does our loyalty to God waver?
So my question for us today is: What is our price? What’s our breaking point, at what point does our loyalty to God waver?
Proverbs 3:5-6 is a very popular passage that tells us what the price of our Christianity should be: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, HE shall direct your paths. We as Christians often look to this passage for comfort and strength, saying, “God will take care of things, we need to trust God.” But the fact of the matter is, this verse shows us that our relationship with God is a two-way street: “TRUST in the Lord with all your heart. In all your ways ACKNOWLEDGE Him.” These aren’t statements; they are commands. Trust, Lean, Acknowledge, Solomon is telling us in this passage that, in order for God to work in our lives, we must work for Him as well. How much are we to work for Him? The writer says IN ALL OF OUR WAYS we are to acknowledge Him. Our lives should FULLY reflect God; the entirety of our being should exist for God. What’s the price of our faith? Solomon says that there shouldn’t be one. That nothing should be more important to us than fearing and living for our God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 is a very popular passage that tells us what the price of our Christianity should be: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, HE shall direct your paths. We as Christians often look to this passage for comfort and strength, saying, “God will take care of things, we need to trust God.” But the fact of the matter is, this verse shows us that our relationship with God is a two-way street: “TRUST in the Lord with all your heart. In all your ways ACKNOWLEDGE Him.” These aren’t statements; they are commands. Trust, Lean, Acknowledge, Solomon is telling us in this passage that, in order for God to work in our lives, we must work for Him as well. How much are we to work for Him? The writer says IN ALL OF OUR WAYS we are to acknowledge Him. Our lives should FULLY reflect God; the entirety of our being should exist for God. What’s the price of our faith? Solomon says that there shouldn’t be one. That nothing should be more important to us than fearing and living for our God.
Romans 12 emphasizes this point. Verses 1-2 read: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12 emphasizes this point. Verses 1-2 read: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Paul is using an analogy here, that being a living sacrifice. In showing our service to God, we are to act as a living sacrifice. Sacrifices, as we all know, were creatures slaughtered to cover sin in the Old Law. These were animals bred and raised for a specific purpose, a purpose that was not their own. The animals didn’t need to be cleansed, but they died for the cleansing anyway. That’s what Paul is saying we should be. We are to live for a specific purpose, a purpose that is not our own. We didn’t deserve the blood of Christ, but we were blessed with it anyway. And for that reason, we should be dead to ourselves, dead to our own wants and fleshly desires. Our lives are to be fully in service of God, which is exactly what we found in Proverbs. Our loyalty, our obedience, our faith in God should not wane, no matter the price offered. If we are to be truly living sacrifices, then our everything should revolve around Him, not the other way around.
Paul is using an analogy here, that being a living sacrifice. In showing our service to God, we are to act as a living sacrifice. Sacrifices, as we all know, were creatures slaughtered to cover sin in the Old Law. These were animals bred and raised for a specific purpose, a purpose that was not their own. The animals didn’t need to be cleansed, but they died for the cleansing anyway. That’s what Paul is saying we should be. We are to live for a specific purpose, a purpose that is not our own. We didn’t deserve the blood of Christ, but we were blessed with it anyway. And for that reason, we should be dead to ourselves, dead to our own wants and fleshly desires. Our lives are to be fully in service of God, which is exactly what we found in Proverbs. Our loyalty, our obedience, our faith in God should not wane, no matter the price offered. If we are to be truly living sacrifices, then our everything should revolve around Him, not the other way around.
But the fact of the matter is, we are at a disadvantage. As I’ve said over and over again, the people who betrayed God in the Bible knew He was real, knew of His power, knew of His wrath, and yet they still chose to betray Him. If someone who knows that God is real can still turn their back, how can we prevent ourselves from doing so, despite being at the disadvantage that we’ve never truly “seen” or “heard” God?
But the fact of the matter is, we are at a disadvantage. As I’ve said over and over again, the people who betrayed God in the Bible knew He was real, knew of His power, knew of His wrath, and yet they still chose to betray Him. If someone who knows that God is real can still turn their back, how can we prevent ourselves from doing so, despite being at the disadvantage that we’ve never truly “seen” or “heard” God?
If you have your Bible with you, turn to Hebrews 11:1-3. The verses read: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”
If you have your Bible with you, turn to Hebrews 11:1-3. The verses read: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”
What are these verses saying? They’re telling us that we CAN know God is real, that we should be able to understand that the things we see around us each and every day were created by an all-powerful Being! That it shouldn’t matter that God has never physically spoken to us, or made His presence known through miracles; we ought to know Him simply due to His creation.
What are these verses saying? They’re telling us that we CAN know God is real, that we should be able to understand that the things we see around us each and every day were created by an all-powerful Being! That it shouldn’t matter that God has never physically spoken to us, or made His presence known through miracles; we ought to know Him simply due to His creation.
So we find ourselves with a challenge. We are to know that there is a God, according to Hebrews. We are to dedicate our lives entirely to Him, to be living sacrifices for His work according to Proverbs and Romans. But we also know that our sacrifice can fall short, that people are turning away today, and, the scarier fact that even those who heard and saw the power of God for themselves were able to be lured away by the world. How do we stay true?
So we find ourselves with a challenge. We are to know that there is a God, according to Hebrews. We are to dedicate our lives entirely to Him, to be living sacrifices for His work according to Proverbs and Romans. But we also know that our sacrifice can fall short, that people are turning away today, and, the scarier fact that even those who heard and saw the power of God for themselves were able to be lured away by the world. How do we stay true?
Turn to Joshua 24. In this chapter, we see Joshua bidding a sort of farewell to the Israelite people as he prepares to die. He has led them through the Promised Land at this point, and shown them the power of God as the mighty nations of Canaan fell before them. And it’s here, after this victorious legacy, that Joshua gives a quote that many of us have memorized. Verse 14 begins: “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Turn to Joshua 24. In this chapter, we see Joshua bidding a sort of farewell to the Israelite people as he prepares to die. He has led them through the Promised Land at this point, and shown them the power of God as the mighty nations of Canaan fell before them. And it’s here, after this victorious legacy, that Joshua gives a quote that many of us have memorized. Verse 14 begins: “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
As Joshua is reviewing what God has done for the Israelites, notice what he says. He begins 14 by saying “therefore”. In other words, “because of the things I have spoken of, because of the victories God has given us, because God has shown us so much love and power…serve Him, in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord.”
As Joshua is reviewing what God has done for the Israelites, notice what he says. He begins 14 by saying “therefore”. In other words, “because of the things I have spoken of, because of the victories God has given us, because God has shown us so much love and power…serve Him, in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord.”
We quote that famous “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” often within the church. But I feel like we forget sometimes that this passage was a warning to the children of Israel, a line drawn in the sand. Because you see, Joshua had watched Israel’s faith waver dozens of times as they wandered through the desert. Cursing God due to lack of food and water, cursing God when Moses was up on the mountain, cursing God when the people of the land seemed too mighty to capture. These were people just like Judas, or Ananias and Sapphira; people who had seen the power of God, who knew He was real, and yet constantly turned away from Him.
We quote that famous “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” often within the church. But I feel like we forget sometimes that this passage was a warning to the children of Israel, a line drawn in the sand. Because you see, Joshua had watched Israel’s faith waver dozens of times as they wandered through the desert. Cursing God due to lack of food and water, cursing God when Moses was up on the mountain, cursing God when the people of the land seemed too mighty to capture. These were people just like Judas, or Ananias and Sapphira; people who had seen the power of God, who knew He was real, and yet constantly turned away from Him.
So Joshua’s parting message to them is this: Fear the lord. Serve Him. Choose for yourselves THIS DAY whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. You see, Joshua knew that the faith of the Israelites was weak. That they were willing to accept God’s providence and protection, but not fully willing to devote themselves to Him. And because of this, whenever the road was rough or it seemed as though God had left them, they turned away from Him, leaving their faith at the first opportunity. So Joshua offered a challenge, a warning, to these people: Be faithful, or turn away from God. He understood that there could be no-in-between. And then he uttered his famous phrase: as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.
So Joshua’s parting message to them is this: Fear the lord. Serve Him. Choose for yourselves THIS DAY whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. You see, Joshua knew that the faith of the Israelites was weak. That they were willing to accept God’s providence and protection, but not fully willing to devote themselves to Him. And because of this, whenever the road was rough or it seemed as though God had left them, they turned away from Him, leaving their faith at the first opportunity. So Joshua offered a challenge, a warning, to these people: Be faithful, or turn away from God. He understood that there could be no-in-between. And then he uttered his famous phrase: as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.
That’s what’s at stake here. That verse is the price of our faith. Are we willing to make the declaration, here and now, that we will serve God, that no matter what happens in our lives, we will stay loyal to Him? If not, we choose for ourselves this day whom we will serve. Maybe it’s our job, that keeps calling us in on Sunday morning. Maybe it’s the football team that plays on Wednesday night. Maybe it’s school, maybe it’s entertainment, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter what the activity is, because if it supersedes God, then that’s what we’re serving. That’s our 30 pieces of silver, or our 20,000 euros, that’s what we’re willing to sacrifice God for. We can’t be a living sacrifice for God if God is the one who’s being pushed to the side.
That’s what’s at stake here. That verse is the price of our faith. Are we willing to make the declaration, here and now, that we will serve God, that no matter what happens in our lives, we will stay loyal to Him? If not, we choose for ourselves this day whom we will serve. Maybe it’s our job, that keeps calling us in on Sunday morning. Maybe it’s the football team that plays on Wednesday night. Maybe it’s school, maybe it’s entertainment, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter what the activity is, because if it supersedes God, then that’s what we’re serving. That’s our 30 pieces of silver, or our 20,000 euros, that’s what we’re willing to sacrifice God for. We can’t be a living sacrifice for God if God is the one who’s being pushed to the side.
So we stay true. We, Christians living in 2021, dedicate ourselves to God. We can't see Him. like those in the Old Testament, but we can put our faith in Him as we look upon His creation. We act as living sacrifices for Him, because He gave us His only Son (John 3:16). And upon doing this, on Judgement Day, we will receive the reward of the grace offered at Calvary. That's the Christian life. As for us, we will serve the Lord.
So we stay true. We, Christians living in 2021, dedicate ourselves to God. We can't see Him. like those in the Old Testament, but we can put our faith in Him as we look upon His creation. We act as living sacrifices for Him, because He gave us His only Son (John 3:16). And upon doing this, on Judgement Day, we will receive the reward of the grace offered at Calvary. That's the Christian life. As for us, we will serve the Lord.
-Reese
-Reese
Watch Reese deliver his lesson below! ↓
Watch Reese deliver his lesson below! ↓
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