Have you ever been betrayed by a friend?

When a friend chooses to break a promise, there is nothing you can do to remove the growing dull pain of hurt. They may swear to you that they would never treason your trust … but they do; and the residue remaining is made up of nothing more than confusion, broken confidence, and fragmented clarity.

The times I’ve been betrayed are painful. However, I shouldn’t sit here and just count my scars wallowing in my own self-pity. Instead I must stop and wonder how many people I’ve wounded (and go ask for forgiveness). I know there has been more than a few times when someone was counting on me either to fulfill a promise, keep a secret or to do something and in the end I only let him or her down. Sometimes I may disappoint a friend on accident, but other times I turn my back on the ones I love in order to get my own selfish way or protect myself instead of them.

All this makes me think about Christ’s friend and disciple, Judas. After 3 years of ministry day-in and day-out with Jesus, Judas decides to turn Christ in for his own gain of riches as it tells us in Matthew 23.

So I have to wonder, is there a Judas within us all? Why does our own pride and longing for recognition forfeit the friendships we’ve worked so hard to grow? Why do we throw away years of intimacy for momentary accolades? Are we so fickle to say a vow of loyalty with our mouths, yet with the same lips give a kiss of betrayal?

I challenge you… and me… to be people who can be trusted. Imagine the difference we could make in this world if our friends, and even our savior could call us “Loyal”.

Proverbs 28:20 says, “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” If we remain faithful to God and to our friends, family, and fellow man, we will be blessed, for this type of faithfulness portrays God to others. If we are just out to seek our own riches and gain – in motives or money – we will not go unpunished.

Dear God,
Banish all the un-loyal in our hearts, for you are the King of Loyalty. Discard the seed of Judas and replant within us the Spirit of Christ. Break the pride of those whom use their lips to give deceitful kisses. Dispel the hypocrisy that has become the cancer of Your Church. May we learn to be a people as loyal and true as you.
AMEN.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we start our new series, “7 Cries from the Cross: Finding new life in Jesus’ last words.” Invite your family and friends to come this series.

And don’t forget the all-church Spaghetti Dinner is this Sunday night from 5:30 – 8 PM. Over 90 people have already RSVP’d! This is going to be a fantastic time of food and fellowship. If you still want to come and have not RSVP’d, email info@creeksidechurch.org.

Remember… you are loved,

Josh.