Burning Question:
When have you experienced a “dark Friday” that later turned into a “resurrection Sunday?”
Morning Devotional:
It seems we all face moments when friendships are tested, challenged, and stretched to their limits. I’ve certainly experienced my share, and thankfully, most of those relationships emerged stronger on the other side. However, I also carry the weight of two friendships that ended painfully, both due to broken promises.
One friendship dissolved when a promise to me was broken, leaving me feeling betrayed. I was overwhelmed by hurt, confusion, and shock. The other ended when I was the one who broke a promise, and I was unprepared for the depth of pain I caused.
I’m not sure why, but during this season, thoughts of these two friends often surface, and they bring to mind the story of Judas.
I find myself connecting with Judas’s crushing realization of his betrayal of Jesus. The act itself was deceptively simple: to take the money and turn on his friend. How did Judas feel when Jesus, in that moment, called him “friend”? Did he ever truly grasp the boundless love Jesus held for him? These are questions we can only ponder.
This leads me to ask: Can we extend love to someone who has betrayed us? And, equally important, can we receive love from someone we have wronged? We have all, in some way, wronged the Lord, yet His love remains steadfast. God’s love is perfect. Regardless of what we believe we’ve done to jeopardize our relationship with Him, if Christ is our Lord, that relationship endures.
– Beth
Bible Quiz:
Question: What was the name of Moses’ sister who watched over him in the Nile?
Answer: Miriam (Exodus 2:4)
Storytime: I was Trying to Help!