Betrayed!

Betrayed

When a ‘friend’ turns against us, the pain is sharp, isn’t it?  When someone with whom we have shared a part of our life walks out, the loss is real, and grief persists like the ache of a broken bone. Betrayal is as old as Creation. Rejection is fueled by many reasons – from misunderstandings, to jealousy, to opportunism. It is common to human relationships. But, the fact that it happens to everyone does not change the fact that it hurts; badly!  David, the songwriter of the Bible says “My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught.”  Why?  Because someone who was a friend had become his enemy! "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God." (Psalm 55:12-14, NIV)

This Psalm reveals the emotional storm that comes with rejection.  At one point, he tells God to "Haul my betrayers off alive to hell—let them experience the horror, let them feel every desolate detail of a damned life." (Psalm 55:15, The Message)  As shocking as it may be, he says, “Go to Hell!” David is distraught, then angry, then hopeful, then heart-broken.  He ultimately chooses to trust the Lord for justice.

When we are hurt, there will be a struggle with anger. The worst thing to do is to pretend we do not care or that it does not matter.  Of course, it does.  But, we ought to take a lesson from David. It is best to work through our emotions with God, not out there in the world. It is nearly impossible to clean up the mess that we create when we throw angry, hurtful words around.  Taking our pain to the Lord and choosing to trust Him for justice, allows us to rise above bitterness.  This is critically important! Why?  Because, when grow bitter the tragedy is compounded.  Bitterness is a poison that spreads to all our relationships, stealing our ability to love. Those who live in Christ must take a different road. The Word directs us to break the cycle of recrimination. "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." (1 Peter 3:9, NIV)   Jesus said we must forgive and that forgiveness must be active, not passive.  We cannot say, “I forgive,” and then just move on!  He told us that when somebody slaps us in the face on one side, we should offer them the other as well! (Matthew 5:39)  Our love is modeled on His.  It is not a wimpy love, a cowardly love, a self-protective love. It is a BOLD love that pursues relationship.

“Ah, Jerry, does this mean we must become door mats for the world or that we must turn into people so desperate for a relationship we will allow others to do anything to us?” Not at all!  The love we find in God, however, secures our hearts so that we can face rejection, absorb the pain, and pursue reconciliation.  Even as we do, we must remember that a restored relationships involves both sides. Forgiveness is mine to offer, but the other person is free to accept it or reject it.  In the spirit of Jesus, I can take the blame and defuse conflict, but ultimately restoration requires the engagement of both.  And, sadly, in our broken world, that is not guaranteed.

The Word asks us to work on conflict and rejection this way.  If we reject the wisdom of Christ, the Enemy gains great advantage to hinder, even destroy the work of God. Here’s the word from the Word. If you’re hurting, rejected, today, it is for you.  If not, then store it away, because inevitably, the time will come that you will need it. “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love." (Matthew 18:15-17, The Message)

____________

They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love

We are one in the Spirit,

We are one in the Lord,

We are one in the Spirit,

We are one in the Lord,

And we pray that all unity

May one day be restored.

All praise to the Father

From whom all things come,

And all praise to

Christ Jesus His only Son,

And all praise to

The Spirit who makes us one.

And they'll know we are Christians

By our love, by our love!

Yes, they'll know we are Christians

By our love!

Peter Scholtes

© 1966 F.E.L. Publications. Assigned 1991 Lorenz Publishing Company (Admin. by Lorenz Corporation)

CCLI License # 810055