"The Betrayal"

 "And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;" (John 13:2 KJV)

  "Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil - the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else." (Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT)

 How do you know? Can anyone that belongs to Christ become someone that might betray Him? Is it even possible to be a Christian and offend Jesus by selling Him out? I know that these questions seem a little hard to answer, but if you really stop and think about it, they are not really hard to find ways to have been the affirmative in our hearts, at one time or another.

 The other day I heard a message regarding this very subject, how we can slip into sin and dwell in that sinfulness, sometimes for very long periods of time. Fortunately, our loving Father will not let that go on forever; unfortunately, the way that He puts an end to it, is by turning us over to the 'tormentors.' What the heck are those, tormentors? 

 The message I listened to was about unforgiveness. Based upon the parable Jesus spoke about, concerning a servant that owed his King more money than he could ever pay. He pled for mercy, and the King had mercy, forgiving all of his debt. Then that same servant met his fellow servant on the street, who owed just a little bit of money, and he demanded to be paid. 

 This might not appear to be betrayal, in the same way of Judas; but it isn't really that far off! As a matter of fact, if you really want to know, it might be worse. Judas was doing what he was supposed to do, even though it was wrong, this was something that was meant to happen, because he allowed it to happen; as did Jesus, who knew all along that it was going to be him that would betray him. 

 When we have been forgiven of so much, more than we could ever possibly pay, and then turn right around and not forgive our brother or sister of one little thing, then we have betrayed the Lord's precious blood that was shed on the cross. It was by His blood that our sins were forgiven, and by our actions of unforgiveness to one another, we have trampled upon the blood! 

 Well, Jesus will forgive you, just so you know; but, according to Jesus' own words, the Father will not be very pleased...

""Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?' Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. "That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers or sisters from your hearts."" (Matthew 18:32-35 NLT)