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Betrayal
Over my life I have had several situations in which I felt personally betrayed. A violation of trust, a broken promise, or just plain deceit. In some cases this was very clear, but in many of the situations there is no direct thing that says aha! So as with many situations in life, I found myself headed to lifes manaul, the Bible.
I was quickly reminded of the greatest betrayal of all, that of Judas. As I read the story and pondered the depths of it, i realized Jesus was aware of the betrayal long before it occured, yet allowed it anyway. The one thing I know and understand about God is that he can do anything! That means he could have at any moment ceased Judas’ actions and prevented the betrayal, but he did not. Why? A master plan.
I am reminded of the words of Joseph, “You meant it for evil, but God intended it for good”. How can I ever presume to know more than God. Everything in life is not just about me. God is at work in the lives of everyone around me. I often pray “Lord use me”. It is amazing when he does, it is not always with glitter and glamour. Sometimes it is throwing me into the muck and mire. Why? to accomplish His purposes.
I recall that “God is not willing that any should perish”, that even means those that betray us. “God chastens the ones he loves”. In the act of betrayal things will often come to light. The things that are hidden (intent of the heart, etc.) will come to light. Under the light change begins to happen.
When you feel betrayed, start by asking what is going on, I mean what might God be trying to accomplish through this situation? It might be to bring some of your own crap, insecurities and weeknesses to light so that healing can begin. It might be to bring someone elses heart to light so that God can begin the redemption process. No matter what the situaion, God loves me. I read how “He endured the cross”. I think of endure, I dont think of vacation but of hardship. What great love held Him to that cross, suffered abuse and ridicule.
Floundering
Life, Faith, Relationships
It all gets a bit messy sometimes. The joy in our life ebbs and we wonder, “Where is God?”. We question, “How could He let this happen?”. We can very quickly find ourselves in a state of floundering. I like how the dictionary defines floundering, “to struggle with stumbling or plunging movements; to struggle clumsily or helplessly” I think, “yep, thats me alright!”.
My faith has been floundering lately. I have struggled with questioning God, asking at times where was He, Why wasnt He fixing things? How could this happen to me? Where did I fail? Then I recalled the story of the two fellas on their way to Emaus after the ressurection of Christ.
“That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was. He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?” They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?” He said, “What has happened?” They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”
Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him. They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared. Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”
They didn’t waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: “It’s really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!” Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.
You ever had one of those moments? Felt alone and abandoned by God? Then BAM! All of the sudden your eyes are opened and you recognize that he has been with you all along. I love that about Him. Even when I cant make sense of things, I can be assured He knows. Yes He knows and He cares! What more is needed?
Jeremiah 23:23-24 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
A Cosmological God
I tell you, I am really enjoying the pastor’s messages on Doctrine. You would think, blah what a boring subject, but its not! I attribute that to the fact that it is clearly evident by his teaching that the pastor has spent not only time in studying the Word of God, but also in intimate relationship and understanding It’s author. Way to Go Pastor!
As the teaching this past week focused on God’s existence and His perfections, Jason touched on the Cosmological evidence of God, or those things that exist in the cosmos or in laymans terms, the universe exists, therefore the question arises “what or who created it?” or “Why something instead of nothing?”
Amazing how we often roll through our days and just take for granted we are here, there is air to breathe (as far as we can determine, only on this planet in all the universe!) and we have provision to exists.
I love superbowl commercials, and one that is funny and is a bit satirical is the “magic fridge”
I laugh at this video, those guys on the back side didnt spend time questioning why the beer was there, they just accepted it. No one was tearing into the wall to see where it came from, the refrigerator was not dismantled to find out the cause of the beer, it was just there!
How I wish that we could sometimes operate our lives in such simple faith, realising that we are here, very complex and intricate beings in a complex and intricate cosmos.
The cosmological argument could be stated as follows:
- Every finite and contingent being has a cause.
- Nothing finite and contingent can cause itself.
- A causal chain cannot be of infinite length.
- Therefore, a First Cause (or something that is not an effect) must exist.
We are here, so there must be a cause. He created the universe and us in it! Go God!
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Accusations
I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him. – Abraham Lincoln
I am not usually a YouTube poster, but this video touched me, as I am sure it will you. I love Christ! I just have a hard time with some of his peeps sometimes. It is strange that I find more condemnation and judgement and literally disassociation by my so called brothers and sisters than I have ever found in Christ.
I often consider the woman at the well, who of course as we know, had quite the shady past. Was there condemnation? There was truth spoken to her, not accusatory, just in love and opportunity. Yes, Christ gave opportunity for her to know him, not as the judge, but as the Messiah, the redeemer!
Listen and watch this video and ask yourself, do you walk in the spirit of Christ. After watching, read John 7 and ask yourself again, do you walk in the spirit of Christ? What is your fruit, the Bible says we are know by our fruit – fruit is the sweet savory stuff from trees. Are you the fruit of Christ?
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment. – Jesus Christ (John 7:24)
