He was one of the twelve. He received the power and authority to heal the sick and raise the dead. He was among those appointed and anointed to bear the Name and Power of Christ to the lost sheep of Israel. But he did not continue among them.
He was called the ‘son of perdition’. Jesus, the true Christ (there are others) is called ‘Faithful (loyal) and True’.
Loyalty is the nature of the true Christ and the true christian. The Body of Jesus does not contain dissension or division. Everyone can wrestle with the theology of that later, but it’s a fact.
There are principles of loyalty…. best presented in a story. There was an employee who once stood accused of insubordination. His employer gathered incriminating evidence and circulated it clandestinely. He knew that firing the man would be an unpopular decision. When the man was given his letter of dismissal, along with the news that derogatory information on him had been circulated among his peers, he exercised his right of fair trial and called for a meeting with those before whom he had been accused. He discussed none of the details of his case with them nor uttered a single word in his own defense.
His peers understood well both the character of the accused as well as the character of the employer. Even without a full hearing, under the counsel of those whom he had tried to sway to his position, the employer reversed the decision, with no apology forthcoming from the accused who remained silent under suspicion of wrong doing. Loyalty, another name for Love, is personal. It cannot think evil.
Loyalty is also principled. Jesus said that He comes as a sword of division splitting parents and children, brothers and sisters. He said that one’s enemies are found in one’s own household, among one’s intimates. . He said that whoever could not forsake his filial loyalties for Him was not worthy of Him. He called his most zealous disciple a devil the moment he departed from His Father’s script.
It is hard to tell who is loyal and who is treacherous. Which body does one belong to? Everybody is zealous about their decisions these days. Everyone claims to be acting on and because of truth.
There are some tell tale signs however – but these are best used to judge oneself, not another.
- Jesus’ sword is compassionate. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. The purpose of His sword is redemption. The sword of an enemy seeks revenge.
- The sword of Zeal without knowledge cuts off enemies’ ears (offends enemies). The sword of Jesus causes enemies to say “Behold a man in whom there is no guile’ (converts enemies).
- Generally speaking, the sword of Jesus is applied face to face. It seeks the heart. The sword of Satan cant stand scrutiny. It is applied from the back.
- The sword of Jesus is surgical. The slain are endeared by Him. The sword of Satan is savage, and his attitude is one of contempt.
To which body do you belong? How do you wield your sword (words, tongue)?
YeKengalé 