BETRAYAL - A SIN OF DECEPTION
Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? - Luke 22:48
By Synthia Esther
March 25, 2010
Charles Spurgeon writes, "My enemy's kisses are deceitful. Therefore I must be on guard when the world puts on its loving face, for whenever possible it will betray me just as it did my Master - with a kiss. Whenever someone is about to stab my faith in the back he typically pretends to have great reverence for it. I must beware of the slick hypocrisy that is the armor-bearer of heresy and apostasy. Knowing how the ungodly love to deceive I must be 'as shrewd as snakes' (Matthew 10:16), in order to detect and thereby avoid the schemes of the Enemy.
"May my soul graciously learn today from the 'youth who lacked judgement' (Proverbs 7:7), when temped by the woman 'with crafty intent' (v. 10). 'She took hold of him and kissed him (v. 13), and 'with persuasive words...led him astray. She seduced him and her smooth talk' (v. 21). May I never be seduced by the 'smooth talk' of the world - may it have no effect on me whatsoever. Holy Spirit, keep me - a poor fail son of man - from being betrayed 'with a kiss!'"
HONESTY AND INTEGRITY
Betrayal has been defined as the breaking or violation of a presumptive social contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or both. Treachery is a word often associated with the act of betrayal. "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devices wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." - Proverbs 6:16-19 We have all experienced betrayal in life, and can attest to the sorrow and pain left in the aftermath of such relationships.
A question posed by Spurgeon, "Yet what if I am guilty of the same cursed sin as Judas, 'the one doomed to destruction' (John 17:12)? I have been 'baptized into Christ Jesus' (Romans 6:3, am a member of His visible Church, and sit at His communion table, but are all these nothing but 'kisses' on my lips? Am I truly sincere? If not, I am the lowest of traitors. Do I live as carelessly and worldly as unbelievers while professing to be a follower of Jesus? If so, I am exposing Christianity to ridicule and leading people to speak evil of the holy name by which I am called. If I live so inconsistently, surely I am Judas and 'it would be better for (me) if (I) had not been born' (Mark 14:21). Do I hope to stay free and clear in this matter?"
A PRAYER BY CHARLES SPURGEON:
"Then, dear Lord, keep me pure. Make me sincere and true and protect me from every false action. Never allow me to betray my Savior. Dear Jesus, I do love You, and although I often grieve You, my heart's desire is to be faithful 'to the point of death' (Matthew 26:38). O God, may You keep me from being a smooth-talking hypocrite, simply professing Christ, but ultimately falling into 'the fiery lake' (Rev. 19:20), because I betrayed my Master 'with a kiss.'"
Copyright - 2010-2015, Synthia Esther. All Rights Reserved.
