Have You Betrayed Jesus, part 2

Have you betrayed Jesus?  Your first thoughts might be in the form of questions. Who? Me? When? How? Your second round of thoughts might be like these.  I would never betray Jesus.  Well, I'm not perfect but I would not do something like betray Jesus.  And as you continue pondering the question, you might consider the meaning of betray or betrayal.  Betrayal is to be disloyal, act treacherously or deceitfully toward another, sell out, double cross, delude or mislead.

 Jesus has said that whatever you have done for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.  Conversely, He said that whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.  (See Matthew 25:40, 45.)  Though you have not betrayed Jesus Himself, what about His people?

 There are so many ways and occasions that we betray Jesus by our betrayal of others.  Did you file last year's tax return?  Did you lie on this year's return?  Do you pay your creditors ... on time ... as you agreed?  Have you borrowed money or things from family and friends, and never paid or given them back?  Are you paying back your student loan?  Have you left child care centers with unpaid balances?  In buffet lines, how much food do you get and not eat?  Have you left restaurants or cafeterias or other food places with extra napkins, serving utensils, ketchup, jelly, salt, pepper, sugar, etc.? Do you have unkept promises with your spouse ... children ... other family ... friends ... co-workers, employers ... employees? Have you spoken or acted unkindly toward another person?

 It really is the little foxes that spoil the vine.  Have you betrayed Jesus through your betrayal of others in what you consider little, seemingly inconsequential things and ways? Stop! Repent, turn away from those things and ways now.  Seek forgiveness.  Do unto others as you would have them do to you.  Please don't betray Jesus!