The Test of Christianity Is Not Just Loving Jesus, but Loving Judas

Jesus. What a beautiful name it is.

Jesus is easy to love! He was perfect in every way. The One who first loved us (1 John 4:10). Who died on the cross to forgive our sins. And give us an unimaginable gift – eternal life.

Knowing this truth makes it easy to love Jesus.

But Christ followers are also called to love sinners. Which we all are. It's why the true test of Christianity is not just loving someone as easy to love as Jesus. But loving someone hard to love, a sinner like Judas.

Jesus loved Judas until the last moment, even kissing him when arrested.

Think of the people in your life akin to Judas. Those who betrayed you. Hurt you deeply. Abandoned you when you needed them the most.

Forgiveness may be one of the most difficult commands to follow, but it's what God tells us we must do. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).

Forgiving others, especially our enemies, is the true acid test of following Jesus. Not just loving Jesus, but the Judases in our lives as well.

How are you doing with this test today?