Traitor's Kiss

Forbid that Sunday's worship service

is not simply something I 'do' before I can

'get on with the rest of my day/week'

Forbid that worship is but a once-a-week-ritual,

rather than a daily out-pouring of loving gratitude.

Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

When This Passing World Is Done (How Much I Owe)

Forbid it, Lord that my life is well-honed hypocrisy

That I betray Thee with a kiss where humble love should be

Pray, in the garden of my thought I do not raise a sword

Seduced by a more luring lot than ‘all for Thee, my Lord’

Forbid that I should fail to bear faith’s cross devotedly

And fall into the cunning snare that Satan set for me

That, though with words I honor Thee my heart is far adrift

Unmoved by scenes of Calvary and love’s redeeming gift

Forbid, that in life’s dreadful end judgement exposes it;

How I was never a true friend but just a hypocrite

Forbid, that I should never seek Thee Lord, with all my love

But with a traitor's kiss upon Thy cheek, my hatred prove

Forbid, that when it is too late to undo what is done

At last, I repent of my hate when hell its prey has won

Forbid, I slight the armour that equips, no substitute

And pray I may remember the tree is known by its fruit

© Janet Martin

Luke 6:43-45

“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

 44For every tree is known by its own fruit.

 For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good;

 and an evil man out of the evil [i]treasure of his heart brings forth evil.

 For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.