Is Judas or Jonathan In Your Circle of Friends?

This blog was dropped in my spirit an hour ago. I want to start this blog with a question: How many times have you seen on social media, people are complaining about those who they thought were friends but turned out to be fake? Now, if you're one who experiences this quote often, ask yourself, how many Judas Iscariot's are in your circle? Then ask, how many Jonathan's are in your circle? Before I go any further, let me say this: both are needed in your life, BUT, you need to regulate the Judas' and cultivate the Jonathan's.  

James 1 says that if we lack wisdom, let him ask of God. Believe me, He will do it. Proverbs 4 says to guard your heart. Jesus said to be wise as serpents (now the serpent was crafty) but harmless as doves. That must be seriously balanced. Many times we do one or the other.

Ok. Let's start with Judas. Jesus chose Judas to be part of the inner circle. Many will speculate why he was chosen, but I don't want to focus there. If you were to look at the character of Judas, he was not only a thief, but an impostor of a disciple. He hid his true colors so well that the other 11 disciples didn't know. Judas will walk with you, talk with you, but once you encroach on his personal agenda, he will betray. Judas wanted an earthly king. Now watch this, Judas sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver. Many people reading this have been betrayed in some shape or form. For some of the Judas' in your life, you were able to detect a snake immediately. Some will come subtlety to rip your world in two. When the devil came to Eve, he came with doubts and a desire to disrupt the plan of God. When most impostors attack, they wait until your heart is fully attached to the friendship (and relationship/marriage if it gets to that point), before the mask comes out. 

This is why friendships need to be covered in prayer and you need the wisdom of God. With me personally, I detect impostors by conversations. Sometimes The Lord will have me ask a certain question just to show me their reaction. But this is Godly Wisdom. He may have you challenge your friends in a different manner. God wants to protect you, the devil wants you to get sucked in via his impostors. Prayer, fasting & interceding can assist in you regulating and cultivating friendships. Most of the people you have to regulate, you'll end up terminating. It hurts to lose people in your circle, but I believe peace of mind is better than a heart ripped out of you. 

Now let's look at Jonathan. In 1 Samuel 18 starting with the first verse: As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

Wow! A true friend will love you as he loves his own soul. No selfish agenda here. Now watch this: Jonathan was the son of King Saul (who God rejected as king). How many of your friends love you as they love their own soul? That's a very important question. Don't be surprised if you only find one or two people. And that's a good thing. Think about it: less people, less drama. Jesus wasn't about drama. When the 70 disciples left, He looked at the 12 and asked them, "are you leaving also?" It's been said: extra baggage carries a lot of weight and you have to pay for that extra weight.

Continuing with Jonathan: in 1 Samuel 19, King Saul told Jonathan that he was going to kill David. Now you would think that a son would be loyal to their father (they should unless the father is for evil like Saul was). Jonathan loved David so much, that he would protect David from his father. Now that's a good friend, right there. Now how many of you desire that kind of a friend?

Now a question you might be asking: 

How did Judas hide his character so well? Remember that a demon spirit can easily transform into an angel of light (and will speak things your ear wants to hear). Again, discernment is key. Now, I'm not saying cut everybody off cause you've been burned (and I know many reading this have been burned terribly - broken friendships, relationships, marriages, and the list goes on). 

In closing, if someone entices you to do wrong, that's not a friend. If someone starts off as sweet, discern and watch. Just like Jesus said to watch & pray, do the same. He wants to protect you from the fake people. He gave us life to enjoy abundantly. 

Blessings:

The Mayne Man