Betrayal is the worst pain. My betrayals of God, of my Family, friends and neighbors. Those close to me in their blatant betrayals of me and then on top always saying that I somehow deserved it. I have no control over our collective betrayal of the Lord in our sin and self-service but it breaks my heart that we remain flippant in this the worst of slights.
God doesn’t see it the way I do and I am seeking first to understand and then be understood. All sin is a betrayal when He has given us everything. Take for example my own beloved nation or the nation of Israel, both blessed beyond compare, in the Presence of His Holy Spirit and yet always seeking to escape to serve the lusts of our eyes, mind, Flesh.
Sin is always Mortal. Jesus views my anger at my Brother without reason as Murder. Knowing this then unforgiveness perhaps is similar in reprehension? The greatest betrayal were always those who had made a vow or had a familial duty of trust that had to be shredded, forgotten or lied about in order to commit the sin of betrayal so hard to forgive.
I am humbled in this life to even be considered; Brother or Friend, no less an example or Pastor to those seeking closer relationship with Christ Jesus. I have a duty of trust and when I break that even for a moment my bones cry out in pain. I is excruciating all self inflicted through disobedience, betrayal and breaking that bond of trust that somehow makes it worse.
What has stricken in this nation and in Israel that we arduously seek the greatest offenses possible against God and our Neighbor? Why when we have it all, everlasting life in short repair? Especially those sins of the body that are so wicked that we invest our own flesh into commission and omission negating any method by which we may project responsibility.
God just wants obedience and Faith in Him. To me that sounds truly hard but having seen the litany of mistakes on my docket I have very little difficulty trusting Him over my own judgment. Yes, being obedience requires discipline and the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish, but knowing the pain of betrayal personally ironically makes it easier to avoid.
I pray the Lord sends me a flare each time an opportunity for escape is presented and that I express no hesitation in running through that portal immediately. For that may be the only way to avoid offending God and Man, my greatest aspiration in this world and the Next. In Jesus Name.
