Betrayal.

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!!!!!!!