Based on John 13:18-30 (New King James Version)
“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.’ When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.’ Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.’ And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’ But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, ‘Buy those things we need for the feast,’ or that he should give something to the poor. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.”
In the world, and even within places where people say they believe in God, it is taught that one must trust in oneself. We are encouraged to put our trust in our abilities, our feelings, and even our hearts. But if we read the Word of God, God's advice is just the opposite. And of course, it should not be a surprise because the world is totally against God, because the world and everything in it follows the prince of this world, Satan. And unfortunately, there is a lot of the world within our churches and congregations, especially in much of the leadership. That's why this idea of trusting yourself is actually everywhere. But, this is a serious error, and such is the error of trusting in oneself that many will not attain God's salvation precisely because of this problem.
To begin, we could talk about Judas Iscariot, and how he trusted himself in such a way that he even sold the Son of God. Some would say: “But Satan entered into him, and that is why he did what he did.” And yes, the enemy entered him, but because Judas allowed the desires of his flesh to reign within himself. Satan did not force his way into his heart, but he rather let him in, because his desires were not with the Lord, but on other things. But unfortunately, Judas was not the only one who trusted in himself. The disciples also made that mistake. Of course, not to the point that Judas did, but they also failed, because they also trusted in themselves. This is what the Word tells us, for example: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ And so said all the disciples.” Matthew 26:31-35. All the disciples had good intentions, and they committed themselves to those good intentions, but they failed because although they had believed in the Lord, they had not yet let go of themselves, they had not put the Lord where He should have been in their hearts, as the Lord of their lives. That was the mistake. Now, some will say: “The Word had to be fulfilled, and that is why they abandoned him when they arrested him.” And yes, that is true, but all things happen as a complement between what God says and what is inside a person. God does not force anyone. And the devil doesn't force anyone either. Man was created with free will. That is why things come true, for better or worse, because everything is a complement of things. If it were not so, then God's judgment would have no purpose. But God will judge us by our actions.
But the point is that everything is written in the Word so that we learn, so that we do not repeat the same mistakes, so that we use our free will wisely, knowing that we will give an account before Almighty God one day. This is what the Word says: “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. So, the teaching should be clear, that we should not trust ourselves, nor our intentions, nor our feelings, much less our abilities. We can never feel firm in ourselves. Who else but the disciples could have trusted themselves since they had left everything to follow the Lord, their homes, their families, their jobs, absolutely everything to follow Christ? But we already know the result of the error, because everyone, without exception, abandoned the Lord, and even Peter, the one who had confessed him as the Christ, yet, who went so far as to deny him, just as the Lord had told him.
So, if we can't trust ourselves, then who should we trust? This is what God says: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8. All our trust and faith should be in the Lord Almighty alone, and in no one else. We are all still flesh—ourselves, our loved ones, our friends, we all have this fallen and fallible nature. And we already saw that although people may have very good intentions, anyone can fail, and you are going to fail even yourself countless times. But the only one immovable is God. He is the Eternal Rock, the One who remains immovable forever and ever; He who was, is, and is to come. He will never fail you. And even though He may seem like He fails, He may be doing His greatest work, but you just can't see it yet. Therefore, and for your own good, put all your faith in the Lord and do not bring the curse upon yourself by trusting in yourself or others. So where is your faith? Lord bless! John. Support Israel. Pray for Israel. God will bless those that bless Israel.