John ESENE        

   Somebody has said, “When you betray someone who loves you, when next you meet, the reaction will be terrible.” What lesson can we learn from this event? We live and learn every day. Whatever you do will have a positive or negative corresponding effect later! We are not all the same, so always learn to control yourself.

    Recently, robbers invaded a man’s home and robbed him while he was hiding on the ceiling. They made away with his money and some of his properties. When the news went viral the first group of people that came to sympathize with him were those he regarded as his best friends. Hence, he joyfully told them how he escaped the robbers. He was so overjoyed that he told them how he climbed and rested on the ceiling of his house while the robbery lasted without the robbers seeing him. To convince his friends, he climbed up and rested on the ceiling and most of them praised him for the testimony while a few kept quiet.

    Within one week, the robbers came again and he was wise to hide on the ceiling again. Surprisingly, they went straight to the ceiling and brought him down. When he looked around him, he was shocked but then, they cut him to pieces and left him. Only then, it became obvious to his neighbors and relations that some of his friends were involved in the robbery and killing. 

       Matthew 26:47-49 says, “Jesus was still speaking when Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs and sent by the chief priest and the elders. The traitor had given the crowd a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want. Arrest him!” Judas went straight to Jesus and said, “Peace be with you, Teacher,” and kissed Him”. Though Jesus did not react negatively because He knew the time had come for Him to complete His mission, He condemned the act. If you have betrayed your friend(s), relations or others, confess your sins and return to God before it is too late.

     Bob Marley said, “Your worst enemy could be your best friend and your best friend, your worst enemy. Only a friend knows your secret and only he can reveal it.  Some will hate you and pretend they love you, then behind try to eliminate you but who God blesses, no one can curse.” When the man with 38-year ailment was healed by Jesus at the pool side, his friends rather than rejoice with him, rebelled against him saying, “Why did you agree to be healed on a Sabbath day?”

   When faced with the storm of life, we all need friends. These people could be our relations, neighbours, co-workers, those who depend on us and so on. But not all those around us are true friends even when they claim to be or when we think they are.  Joseph was thrown into the pit by his own siblings, but Reuben pleaded that he be sold as a slave rather than kill him. So, of all his brothers, only Reuben proved to be Joseph’s friend. Esau and his brother showed that your relation could be your enemy.

     When those you regarded as friends betray you, do not allow anxiety to send fear, uncertainty, and nervousness to heighten your blood pressure. After all, they are human beings. Paul said in Philippians 4:6-7 “Have no anxiety about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace which is far beyond human understanding will keep your hearts and mind safe in union with Christ Jesus.” Cast all your anxiety on God and you will not regret it! For he said in Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.”

     Are you in the habit of betraying your relations, neighbors, Church members, those you are leading, those who see you as their mentor, etc? Take courage to repent and change for good to enable you return to God as a prodigal child! There is no hiding place for sinners: God sees all that you do every day.

     My dear readers, kindly reflect on your past to fish out those who have been pulling you down from your ladder of success and beg God on their behalf like Moses did when his own sister Miriam and Aaron rebelled against him (Num. 12:1-10), to forgive them their sins against you and bless them! When you forgive those who offend you, it will be easy for you to beg God to forgive you your sins!

     You too might have offended many people without knowing. This history will compel you to ask the question, “How could Miriam persecute her own brother Moses rather than rejoice to be his sister? “This is the reason while I asked you to reflect on your past: either you have done it to someone or that someone has done it to you. Note that Moses did not get angry with his sister but rather he pleaded with God to forgive her.

     When Joseph, the son of Jacob was dropped in a dried well by his siblings, he said nothing. They later withdrew him from the well and sold him into slavery without him altering a word. Potiphar’s wife lied against him and he was imprisoned, yet he did not say a word in defense.  A large space was made available in the Bible perhaps, to enable us learn from him.

     Kindly learn from the above case study and be wise like Joseph who said nothing to anyone about his betrayers but relied solely on God who eventually rewarded him abundantly beyond his expectation.  At the end of his suffering unjustly, God influenced Potiphar to promote him to a Minister. Be slow to speak when you are overwhelm with joy or anger!