Kisses of deception

Judas kissed the cheek of the Savior, but Jesus never had his heart. His act, dripping with the sweetness of false devotion, was nothing more than a hollow gesture. You can walk with Jesus, share His meals, even whisper His name in the shadows, but if your heart is far from Him, all your actions are empty. A kiss can be a lie, a show of affection hiding the deepest betrayal. You can raise your hands in worship, shout His praises, and still not truly know Him. To put on a show of love without surrendering your heart is to live in the shadow of Judas, pretending at intimacy while holding fast to self. The tragedy of Judas is not in the kiss he gave, but in the heart he withheld. What good is it to call Him Lord, and yet never let Him reign within? You can fool the crowds, maybe even yourself, but Jesus knows. He sees past the outward show, and what He desires is not your performance but your heart. Without that, everything else is a charade. Judas chose self over Christ, and we often shake our head in disgust as we read of his trade for 30 pieces of silver. Yet we often trade Jesus for much less, we give our kiss of betrayal and take a cheap substitute and are satisfied because we “look the part.”

Judas kissed his cheek but never gave him his heart. Judas had his feet washed, but never knew the Savior who washed them. Judas saw the miracles, but never believed for himself.

The glitter of 30 pieces of silver meant more to him than all eternity.

Where is your heart?