Just because he was available....

I am going through a Bible Study called Jesus the One and Only by Beth Moore.  I have been really convicted by today's study about Judas.  I was reading in Luke 22: 1-6 which says this:

"Now the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.  3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.  4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.  5  They were delighted and agreed to give them money.  6  He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present."

Judas and the teachers of the law ended up being means to an end to one another by both conspiring to get rid of Jesus.  Because of the traditional Passover coming up, it was going to be the year of the Lord's favor and somehow they all knew that God was about to use His Son in an amazing way.  Judas and company were trying to stop that from happening because they felt out of control in the situation.  "When circumstances suddenly seem out of our control, our reactions may define the nature of our relationship with Christ."  And with Judas, it showed.

The thing that I find convicting about this whole thing is this..Why do you think Satan could have entered one of Christ's own twelve disciples?  He was close to Jesus and how could He have allowed this?  Part of the answer to this is in the heart of Judas.  And I was reminded this: "Please understand that just because a person appears to follow Christ doesn't necessarily mean he has placed saving faith in Him."  Why did Satan pick Judas instead of Peter, James and John?  This is the kicker... SATAN WAS ABLE TO ENTER JUDAS BECAUSE HE WAS AVAILABLE!  Judas followed Christ for several years without ever giving his heart to Him.  It reminds me to not assume or not assume that those around me are believers.  You can follow Jesus (and even literally in Judas' case) and still have a heart that is cold and empty without Him.  Either you are filled with the Holy Spirit or you are empty and available like Judas was where Satan can come in and take up residency in your soul.  My prayer is that my heart would be so full of the Spirit that Satan could have no part of me.  Evaluate your own life and consider...Are you going through the motions as Judas did? Are you available?