Betrayal.
I can't tell you how often I've heard how
wonderful it is that my family is so close-knit, well it's been often enough
for me to not be able to count. There has been very little major dissension
through the many years, but overall we seem to forgive one another readily
enough for any slights- big or small. We've had a very strong family bond. All
of us at one time or another have tried to be there for each other as needed in
many different ways. Of course, it'd be impossible for us to be there as needed
all the time, but even when we weren't able to be there for each other
physically helping out we've known the thoughts and prayers of each other have
been readily made. Phone conversations if nothing else have also been a big
help, and texting, and instant messaging, all of these forms of communication
have been used in times of needed emotional, mental support. Why am I talking
about this when my first word above was betrayal? Because truthfully the word
of God paints a different picture than the one we call idyllic and good. I
can't help but wonder if we aren't prepared for what may come in the future
concerning family bonds. How dependent are we on them? How necessary do they
seem to us for our well-being? How crushed are we going to be if something
happens to destroy fifty-some years of family camaraderie? Would we be crushed
enough to lose our faith in God? Are the family ties stronger than the ties we
need to have with Jesus?
Do you remember the Bible passage about the
person wanting to follow Jesus but saying he had to go home first to bury a
family member? Here, let's read it -
Luk 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they
went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee
whithersoever thou goest.
Luk 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have
holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to
lay his head.
Luk 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me.
But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Luk 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury
their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Luk 9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will
follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my
house.
Luk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man,
having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of
God.
What is being portrayed here? The heart ties we
have with family, the ties we truly believe we are supposed to have beyond
anything else? We are supposed to be willing to die for our family, right? The
truth is, sometimes those who are closest to us are those who might, just might
be the ones Satan will use to keep us from solidifying our relationship with
God being FIRST in our lives. We don't EVER want to make a choice between
family and God, but it's clear that it could be very likely we may have to. The
emotional pangs of devastation at the very thought of losing any of my family's
love, acceptance, understanding, kindness, friendship, even now prick at me and
I know God is trying to teach me something. I pray that it never ever comes to
a point in my life that I have to choose between God and family, that my family
will belong to God, that we will all belong to God seeking His will first and
foremost in our lives. Yet I cannot be naïve enough to hide my being drawn to
study this more thoroughly.
The following are a few passages that speak to
the truth of family that remain possibilities for all families everywhere.
Mar 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.
Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for
my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Eze 38:21 And I will call for a sword against
him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be
against his brother.
Mic 7:5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not
confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy
bosom.
Mic 7:6 For the son dishonoureth the father,
the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her
mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and
shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Luk 12:52 For from henceforth there shall be
five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
Luk 12:53 The father shall be divided against
the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and
the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law,
and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Luk 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.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things
but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom
I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may
win Christ
We truly need to count ALL things but loss for
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the truth. We
are told, GOD FIRST. Do we believe in God first? When all around us we are
forming solid ties with people and we believe that God would have us love them
at all costs, we can't forget that God doesn't mean that we abandon HIM being
first in our lives so we can keep the love of others- no matter who they are.
Are we truly prepared, can we ever truly be prepared for the betrayal of those
we love most and think love us most?
My family is really conscientious of the need
to forgive one another because we KNOW that no one is perfect, that no one can
keep from all the hurting ways that exist in our world. And even if we are
betrayed to the uttermost, we need to forgive one another as we know our God
would have us forgive. Even if we are betrayed horrifically, we need to
forgive. What we cannot do is abandon God in order to keep any other in our
life. If the other's acceptance of our forgiveness means our turning our back
on God in any way, we have to forego their acceptance. We can forgive all who
betray us without their accepting any of our forgiveness. We can mourn the loss
of a betraying loved one deeply, but not let it pull us from God. We can extend
the forgiveness over and over again, we can ask to be forgiven over and over
again if we've hurt others, but we cannot compromise our relationship with God
for anyone in order to be told we are forgiven by them.
God first. Others Second and that is ALL
others, not just those who make it seem easy to put second. Those we love the
most with all our hearts must be second to the ONE who truly must have all our
hearts in order that we may truly love others as HE would have us love them. We
must love when we are despised- righteously despised for supposed good reasons,
or unjustly despised for no good reason at all. We must love God and let His
love in us love others. We must love God by allowing Him to use us to do His
will on earth. He wills that we love Him first, and love others as He loves
them.
God help us, God help me, forgive me, God,
forgive me all others, forgive me.
All through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior,
now and forever!!!!!!!
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