When Someone Betrays You

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Remember our verse yesterday?  1 Peter 3:9  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Who wrote it?  Peter (Duh, it says it right there in the reference.)  But what did Peter do at Jesus' crucifixion?  He lied about knowing Jesus.  The man who had earlier said, "Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." was now cursing people like a fisherman and denying any relationship with this man.  Ouch!

This kind of betrayal is painful and all too common.  There are those who call themselves followers of Jesus, who when challenged outside of the church either outrightly deny any relationship with Jesus or devalue their relationship with Him significantly.  

But what do you do when someone denies knowing you?  This can happen.  Sometimes we call it disowning someone or just, "taking a break."  Can a relationship be revived?  Can a love lost be regained?

The good news is, YES!  But you have to do what Jesus did.
1 - Find the person.
2 - Ask them if they want to revive their friendship with you?  This is risky.  They may say, No.  They may want to qualify the relationship.  You may need to listen emphatically.  You might hear something that causes you pain.  So ask yourself.  Am I willing to do this?
3 - Do the heavy lifting.  Go out of your way to restore the relationship and keep it going.  Don't worry, they will help you soon enough.

PRAY:  Dear Jesus, if I have betrayed anyone, help me to restore that relationship.  If I have been betrayed anyone, then help me to forgive and restore that relationship too.  AMEN

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