John 13:18 I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.'

Those who try to do these things—that is try to serve without Jesus are not blessed if they do them. He has Judas in mind, of course, when He said, “I do not speak of all of you.” This is a marvelous statement. Judas was chosen, not to live to love with Him, but to fulfill Psalms 41:9. “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” Judas was necessary to the salvation work. There will be other Judases in the church who are necessary to God’s sanctifying work in our lives. Was Jesus deceived when He trusted Judas? No. Was He misled when God lead Him to invite him to eat and walk with Him? No. He entrusted Himself to His Father in whose love He did abide. Like Jesus, we receive the Judases into our midst and trust our loving and wise Father’s administration of our affairs.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com