One of the strongest pains we have to face in this world is the pain of betrayal. This is allowed by God to touch and make our lives.
The same knife – In the hands of a butcher does one thing but in the hands of a doctor does another thing.
Our Lord knows what He is doing.
The scripture reference that comes closest to describing the pain of betrayal is psalm 55
Psalms 55:12-14, 20-21 NLT
It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God. As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!
The purpose for God allowing betrayal in our lives
1. Our confidence in drawing strength from other people will get broken. We will learn to have strong people around us but not depend on them totally. Our source of strength becomes God alone. We walk with others with Christ in the center.
God wants us to LOVE OTHERS LIKE HE LOVED US.
| HUMAN LOVE (flowing through us is undependable and can change into unkindness) | GOD’S LOVE (flowing through us makes us loyal, dependable and kind) |
| Trusts the person indiscriminately | Guards itself knowing everyone has a sin nature in them |
| Exalts the person and is blind to all their faults | Gauges what their weak points are, covers them in prayer and receives strategy from God to connect accurately with them |
| Gets disappointed (obviously!) | Grateful for things going right |
| Gives up | Connects by God’s strength. Speaks God’s words that convicts their neighbor. Praises God for their future deliverance. Rejoices as their lives are changed. |
Human love cannot last the journey of life. Agape love (allowing God to love them through us) will last even the toughest last mile, until finish line.
2. Our confidence on mammon will get broken. We can see right through how love for money can cause people to betray their own flesh and blood. We lose interest in money and what it can buy in this world.
We will have money, but it will not have us.
The world runs after that which mammon can buy – status, things, etc., We run after Christ, working in obedience to the Word and the Holy Spirit to build Christ’s nature in us. As we do this all things we need will be added to us.
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
3. Our confidence in solving human troubles through our knowledge or experience or correcting our behavior will be broken
We cannot fix our broken insides by fixing our outsides.
No serene places, wealth, endless pursuit of knowledge, hobbies etc., can heal what is broken inside. Jesus must come in. In every situation the healer has to come in.
4. Our confidence in our own self will be broken. We are capable of the same betrayal of our brother that hurt us in the first place. There is a sin nature within all of us and that is put to death by obeying the Holy Spirit alone.
Romans 8:12, 13 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
- We have to move from – It is not I but the sin nature in me to No longer I but Christ in me, just like Apostle Paul did.
- Romans 7:15-17 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So, I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
- Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- It is by abiding in Jesus that we can bear much fruit. It is not good intentions. It is him living through us. It is His’ fruit, not ours.
- John 15:3,4 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
- Glory means the goodness of God
- Exodus 33:18, 19Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:25-27
Amen.
Rehoboth 