When you’re on a long trip with people who don’t understand the path or the purpose of your journey it’s important to have a guarded heart. If not, discouragement and frustration creep in and get you off course.
Guard your heart.
“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words… Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. 24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. 25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.” Proverbs 4:20-25 NLT
This is where we find Jesus and his disciples.
The cross is imminent but Jesus’ closest friends, His twelve apostles, really have no understanding of what’s about to happen.
“The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus, because they were afraid of what the people might do. 3 Then Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve apostles. 4 Judas went to talk with the chief priests and the officers of the temple police about how he could help them arrest Jesus. 5 They were very pleased and offered to pay Judas some money. 6 He agreed and started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus when the crowds were not around.” Luke 22:2-6 CEV
At the heart of the matter was Judas’ greed. He was looking for a way to earn a quick dollar. He left his heart unguarded.
“When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat, 15 he said to them, “I have very much wanted to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer...After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, ‘This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement. 21 The one who will betray me is here at the table with me! 22 The Son of Man will die in the way that has been decided for him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays him!’ 23 Then the apostles started arguing about who would ever do such a thing.” Luke 22:14-23 CEV
The purpose of the Passover had always been the shedding of lamb’s blood to make an atonement for the sins of the people. At the heart of this Passover was the shedding of the blood of the Lamb of God.
“The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said: Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 CEV
Jesus guarded His heart. He knew there was suffering ahead; He knew the one who betrayed Him was sitting at the table with them acting as if nothing was wrong. Jesus continued to serve those who should have been serving Him. His heart was pure.
“The apostles got into an argument about which one of them was the greatest. 25 So Jesus told them:.. The most important one of you should be like the least important, and your leader should be like a servant. 27 Who do people think is the greatest, a person who is served or one who serves? Isn’t it the one who is served? But I have been with you as a servant.” Luke 22:24-27 CEV
No greed, pride, or self-serving ambition filled His heart. Only love, compassion, purpose, forgiveness, mercy and grace were in the heart of Christ that night. He laid aside His anguish, His sorrow and His suffering to continue to minister to the needs of His disciples.
He had a guarded heart.
Because He kept His heart pure He died for us. If we guard our hearts we will live for Him.
It’s all a matter of the heart!