February 10
Ex 30:11-31:18 | PS 32:1-11 Pro 8:27-32 | Matt 26:47-68
My wife and I watched a movie titled, "Betrayed". This Norwegian movie with subtitles, describes how the Jewish Norwegian citizens during WWII were betrayed by every facet of their fellow countrymen. They had absolutely no problem reporting them, rounding them up, confiscating their personal property, and even helping with them being sent by ship to Auschwitz. This resulted in the death of close to 800 of their former friends and neighbors. These men and women were mischaracterized, misrepresented, demonized, and brazenly lied about. In fact, there was no truth behind their accusations. Many think that was then, this is now. Many underestimate that evil has always existed, and the thirst for power and control are never satisfied. Over time the names, faces, and groups of those seeking control and those being demonized might change, but this basic ugly human instinct never does. The Freedom Convoy in Canada began on January 22, 2022. These men and women were banded together in their opposition to the forced mandates being imposed on them. They had been peaceful, had engaged the crowds, had fed homeless, had set up bouncy gyms for kids to play in. The flags waving were Canadian. But they were being misrepresented by those in charge and lied about. They were being described by those in the highest positions as flying swastikas and confederate flags (a lie). Those in government had withheld fuel for their trucks, which means they had deprived them of warmth since most of these truckers sleep in their cabins in their trucks. Money donated to them had been stolen and diverted to others. We have seen the same in our nation over those who have resisted almost anything being pushed from those in authority. The police, our military, healthcare workers who refuse to go along with the mandates, parents of children who refuse to accept school curriculum have all been the targets. The lies are building against them, the hatred is escalating toward them, and I'm sorry to say that history has a way of repeating itself over and over again.
None of the people in the groups mentioned above are perfect. As another thing that we, as people, all have in common is that we are all sinners, whether or not we like to admit this or not (1 John 1:8,10, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us... If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."). But unlike us, Jesus was without sin. Yet, despite this, He was betrayed, lied about, mocked and beaten without cause, by those who seemed to be in authority (They did not realize that it was indeed, Jesus, who was always in control of the situation). We read in Matthew 26:47-48, "And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”" Our perfect Savior was betrayed by one of those who were closest to Him, one He called, "Friend". Once the scene began to unfold, He was then abandoned, as we read in 26:56, "...Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.". Then the lies began, as we read in 26:59-60, "Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none." Jesus, realized that those assembled had no interest in truth, as their eyes and ears were closed to it, as we read in 26:62-63, "And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent." We see the response when Jesus speaks the truth in 26:64, " Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”, in 26:67-68, "Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”"
We are surprised at the events that are unfolding before our eyes. But, Jesus has warned us in John 15:20, "Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. " Sad to say, it seems that what we are witnessing are just the birth pangs. The division and the desire for power, fueled by evil is building at a momentum which is unlike anything that I have seen in my lifetime. Now is when we must not allow ourselves to be swept away by emotions. Now is the time that we must be steadfast in His Word to make sure that the stances that we take and how we represent Him are clear and consistent with His teachings. This means that we can decide what it is that we will choose to take our stands on and represent, but we can never lose sight in our words, our character, and our demeanor, Who it is that we represent: the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. Lastly, as it seems that our world is increasingly getting darker, and persecution seems more likely than not for more and more of us, remember our King's words to us in Matthew 5:10-12, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.""
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: