Betrayed
Good Morning,
One of the hardest aspects of a broken home is betrayal. Rejection is hard, but to be betrayed by one you love is unbelievable.
Judas betrayed Jesus.
Satan betrayed God.
Absalom betrayed David.
In each case, God was on the throne and very capable of stopping or rearranging circumstances – but He did not. God has plans that are bigger than ours. God sees down the road where we cannot see. God is coordinating the circumstances to conform us to the image of Christ. If I am to learn to turn the other cheek, then I must have the first cheek slapped. If I am to forgive as Jesus did, it is necessary that I be wounded. If I am to forgive and love those who betrayed me, then betrayal will need to be a necessary part of my life – not a desirable or pleasant part but a necessary part.
In the book of Matthew, the word betrayed is mentioned; in every case, it refers to Judas.
Luke 21:16 “And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.”
During the tribulation, much betrayal will take place.
Matthew 24:10 “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”
Mark 13:12 “Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.”
Do not allow yourself to fall into a pity party when you are betrayed; it happened in Scripture, and it happened to the best of God's people.
As in most situations, the key is not complaining or blaming, the key is planning how to respond to that trail. Most Christians love to quote Romans 8:28 and the idea that all things work together for good, but we sure have a problem believing it. We have a problem believing that God is in a trial, or that God has a hand in the events we face.
I hate to say it, but that funny old saying, “misery loves company“ is really true. Somehow my burden seems lighter when you carry or have carried the same load. When I read about you or hear you tell of your trials and God‘s grace to sustain you, I gain spiritual strength.
2 Corinthians 1:4 “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
I have yet to see anybody strengthened by blaming, complaining, or hating. In most cases, the trial you are facing is settled and you cannot undo it. You may wish you had not taken that turn or been with those people, but you were, and you did. As the old southern expression goes, “Don’t cry over spilt milk.”
The big issue is always how we respond.
Here are a few DO NOTS:
Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”
vs. 20 “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
Pastor