Betrayed again ... but Jesus knows the feeling

I’ve just been betrayed – for the umpteenth time. (I stopped counting a long time ago. It was only hurting me to do so.)

Who’s the betrayer?

It’s not worth belaboring the details. Let’s just say it was someone who should know better. Someone who once promised to be an ally. Someone with whom, for a variety of reasons, I cannot avoid interacting fairly often. Someone who deliberately set out to damage me in front of other people.

It sort of backfired on the betrayer this time, who ended up looking worse for wear. But thank God, it’s not my job to discipline the deceiver. I didn’t jump in. I just looked away. Anyway, people got it. Truth has a way of outing, once in a while.

Still it hurt.

Hey, it happens. And this breach of trust, like so many before it, might never be fixed. Sure, the Lord calls us to forgive. And we do. But trust is hard to rebuild, especially when deceit, disregard, and double-crossing are demonstrated routinely and cavalierly.

What can we do when this happens?

Sometimes there’s nothing we can do, except to step back and pray God will guard our hearts. And He does.

Jesus gets it.

He was betrayed by a close friend, someone who promised to stick with Him. Someone who shared His daily life, His journeys, and His meals. He knows the heavy sighs, the aching heart, and the soul sorrow of betrayal. And He comes alongside to comfort us when we face the same disappointment.

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” (Psalm 118:6-9, ESV)

I like the part about looking in triumph on the one who hates. I don’t really care about triumphing over the betrayer. But I do want to triumph over the hurt in my own heart. That battle is worth winning. And the Lord has already claimed the victory.

In His power, we can look at the haters and the hurters from a position of strength. And that’s a big win. We know we are abundantly loved by the One that truly matters, no matter what a betrayer may say or do.

Judas, I forgive you. But my boundaries just grew a little bigger and stronger again.

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Adapted from public domain photo

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VALUE: Your net worth is immeasurable, even if you can't see it.

Negative self-talk is a killer, rivaling utter conceit in its destructiveness. But we’ve probably all practiced it, even without meaning to do so.

“I’m stupid.”

“I’m too fat (or too skinny).”

“I’m too tall (or too short).

“Nobody likes me.”
“I’m ugly.”

“I wish I were ____________ (fill in the blank).”

“I can’t do it.”

Sometimes we all want to be something we’re not, don’t we? Maybe we’d like to be funnier, more popular, smarter, stronger, wealthier, younger, or more whatever.

I surely do. I find myself pining about wanting to be taller, thinner, more athletic, more musical, more adept at artistic pursuits, and all sorts of other “mores.”

God’s not surprised. But He begs to differ.

A few years ago, a popular slogan among Christians said, “God doesn’t make junk.” That may sound sort of trite, but it’s also true. Can we just say that the divine Creator is pretty skilled at creating?

Look in the mirror. God made that person in His own image. Sure, we don’t fully understand what that means. But it surely means you’re worth plenty to Him.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

This favorite old verse contains at least three important truths about your value to God.

1. You are priceless.

You have God’s own fingerprints all over you. (Take a look at Psalm 139 for a detailed account of this.)

“… we are God’s handiwork …”

2. Your life has a purpose.

Although good works can’t save you (see Ephesians 2:8-9, right before the verse printed above), such deeds definitely have something to do with the reason God made you. He didn’t just slap you together on a whim. He designed you to have meaning, living in touch with Him.

“… created in Christ Jesus to do good works …”

3. Your existence was planned.

It was no accident that you arrived in this world. And even your future is not mere happenstance. Believers love to quote this verse (often out of context).

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

This doesn’t mean things will always go the way we want or hope, but it does point to God’s plan for our lives and how He promises to fulfill His ultimate purpose.

“… which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

You are a person of great value.

God says so. No matter how much you or anyone else likes or dislikes you, treats or mistreats you, God is totally bonkers over you. He adores you. He cherishes you. He could not love you more, and He will not love you less.

And He wants to you to know it.

Preaching to the mirror, let me just take a big gulp of air here and say that complaining about the way we’ve been made sort of smacks of looking at a master craftsman’s work and calling it worthless. It sort of insults the artist’s workmanship. Would you stand in a museum in the presence of a master artist and carp about his or her technique? Can you just imagine such a scene?

• “Hey, Vincent. Your brush strokes are showing on The Starry Night.”
• “Mr. Munch, why did you use so much orange over the Scream guy?”
• “OK, Leonardo. What’s with the strange smile on the Mona Lisa?”
• “C’mon, Coolidge. Seriously? Dogs Playing Poker?” (Sorry, had to.)

Remind me of that, will you, the next time I kick up a pity party about the way God made me? Because I probably will. But God will still love me and call me back on it.

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Adapted from public domain photo

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It's Super Tuesday, and Jesus is still King

Today is Super Tuesday in America. That means voters in 13 US states and one US territory will head for polling places to cast votes in the 2016 American Presidential primaries. Much is at stake in this election. Ethical, financial, global, moral, and political issues are on the line. And probably a few Supreme Court bench spots too.

Everyone seems to be hot and bothered about the 2016 vote. And well they should be.

It matters.

To those who live in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming and American Samoa: Please vote today. Pray, and follow your heart, as God leads. May He direct you to choose a candidate who is willing to lead with good character and a willingness to hear from Him.

To all fellow citizens of faith: May we bathe this entire electoral process in prayer. Let’s pray for revival in the land. Let’s storm Heaven with pleas for the people of this great nation to return to the Lord. (Oh, and our time to vote is coming soon, if it hasn't already taken place.)

No matter who wins the American Presidential election, let’s never forget: Jesus reigns. 

His kingly appointment comes from a much higher place (see John 18:36) than the American polling booth, for He sits at the right hand of the Father in glory (see Acts 2:33). He is the Son of the Living God, who is much pleased with Him (see Matthew 3:17).

And we eagerly await that Day, when we shall see Him as He is (see 1 John 3:2). He will reveal His glory, and His Kingdom will come to earth.

Hallelujah, He reigns. (Thank God.)

Oh, and God will not be caught off-guard by the outcome of the American Presidential election. That's a sure thing.

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.

The world and all its people belong to Him.”

(Psalm 24:1, NLT)

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Jesus - Adapted from public domain photo

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