Daily Devotional - Growing In Grace - Week 14 - Day 91 - 4/1/26 - "Did You Ever Love Me?"

Author: Evangelist Lisa Dalton

“Did You Ever Love Me?”
Scripture: Matthew 26:14–16

“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.  And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”

Devotion:
It’s no secret that I’ve been divorced twice. I’ve had relationships that looked promising—relationships that seemed to hold a forever future—yet they ended in disappointment, hidden motives, divided loyalty, and even greed. The dream of doing life together forever was gone.  When it was all said and done, everyone involved lost something and walked away wondering, did you ever love me? Yes, something beautiful eventually came after the heartbreak, but in the midst of that heartbreak, joy and true love felt so far away.

In our lesson today, we see Judas Iscariot—one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Judas walked with Jesus. He heard His teachings, witnessed His miracles, and shared meals with Him. Yet somewhere along the journey, his heart drifted. Doubt and deceit slowly took the place of love and loyalty.

You see, you don’t fall out of love overnight. That fall begins long before it shows up in your actions. Judas didn’t suddenly decide to betray Jesus. He betrayed Him in small compromises long before the silver ever touched his hands.

And this is the part of the lesson that hurts the most:
He sold our Savior for the price of a slave. Not because Jesus wasn’t valuable, but because Judas’ heart had stopped valuing Him.

Consider this:
Before we judge Judas too quickly, we must pause and ask:

• What do we trade Jesus for?
• What steals our loyalty?
• What competes for our devotion?
• What “small compromises” do we excuse?
• 
  

It may not be thirty pieces of silver, but it might be comfort, pride, approval, habits, or distractions.
A divided heart will always sell what a devoted heart would protect. Guard your loyalty. Guard your love. Guard your walk with Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, search my heart and reveal anything that competes with my devotion to You.
Strengthen me where I am weak, correct me where I am drifting, and help me value You above every earthly desire. Keep my heart loyal, steady, and surrendered.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.