TAKE NO OFFENSE AT GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 19, 2022.

SUBJECT: TAKE NO OFFENSE AT GOD!

Memory verse: "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." (Matthew 11 vs 6.)

READ: Matthew 13 vs 54 - 58:

13:54: When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom, and these mighty works?

13:55: Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? and His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

13:56: And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”

13:57: So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house.

13:58: Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

INTIMATION:

Our memory verse in Amplified Version Bible states thus; “And blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is he who takes no offense at Me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through Me and is not hindered from seeing the Truth." Therefore, it is unacceptable to God, and very costly for anybody, to be emotionally hurt by God—being offended at God. Any relationship that counts emotional hurts is devoid of joy and love.  Consequently, the best is never gotten in such relationship. 

Invariably, it is a blessing to love God, and put all your trust in Him, no matter the situation one faces. This can only be possible when you see life from God’s perspective; as the Creator and Owner of all things, who does His pleasure, His thoughts for you being of good only, He cares for you, and all things ultimately work together for your good for those that love Him. Any form of taking offense against God is tantamount to unbelief—not being convinced that He can take care of you adequately no matter the circumstances you face. 

Not taking offense against God is a major prerequisite in a lovely relationship with Him. Your fellowship with Him is most fruitful if you devoid of any form of unbelief. While preparing your heart to approach God in prayer, one of the things you must guard against is offenses. So many are offended in God and all they do in prayer is nothing but complain, and murmur. When you are offended in God, you turn Him against yourself; and if God is against you, who will save you? If you despise Him, who will lift you?

Our memory verse was Jesus’ admonition to the disciples John the Baptist that sat in prison and sent his disciples to Jesus to inquire from Him if He is the Christ they have longed for. John was a forerunner of Christ, sent to announce His coming to the world. He felt very strongly that as a forerunner, he ought not to be in prison, but should be out of the prison still abounding in his duty, announcing Christ. Eventually, he began to have some doubts about whether Jesus really was the Messiah. 

John expected that the coming Messiah should be able to save him from prison. When his disciples came and put John's question before Jesus; "Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?" (Matthew 11 vs 3.) Jesus knew that he was already offended in Him. He asked the disciples to go back to him with the good news of His exploits—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Obviously this will offend John the more because he already had heard all those, and wondered why He didn't want to save Him from prison. 

The wise and right thing to do when you are in doubt, because of happenings around you, is turn to Him, and not turn away from Him. Remember it was in the same prison and the same Jailer that held Paul and Silas. They were doing the work of the Messiah when they were arrested and jailed. But they didn't get offended, but instead sang and praised God while in there, and God came in His Might and Power, and saved them. But forJohn, he was eventually beheaded when the king's daughter, on the advice of the mother, asked for his head in a platter.

Many are stranded because of offenses. When they stand in prayer, they justify themselves against God. They say, "Lord, I've paid my tithe, I have done everything that You commanded. Only You haven't done your part." In other words, they count themselves faithful and God unfaithful. But the Bible says, "..Let God be true but every man a liar…”  (Romans 3 vs 4.) Anything that makes you to murmur against God is moving you against your destiny. You can't expect Him to answer your prayers when your heart is full of complains and offenses against Him. Have you not heard, "Woe to him who strives with his Maker." (Isaiah 45 vs 9.)

If He withdraws His breath from you for one second, you will be dead. If you have lost anything, God is the reason you didn't loose everything. May be the enemy's intention was to take your life, but God stepped in and you only lost your car. But here you are, offended and complaining against Him in prayer. If He withdraws His hand from your life, can you imagine what will become of you?

The Scripture in Romans 8 vs 28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." So, set your heart right before Him. Count Him faithful in all things. Refuse to complain, but rather let God know that you have no alternative beside Him, and that you anchor your whole trust in Him. Any attempt to step away from God, is stepping into doom for you.

The Bible says in Job 9 vs 4, "God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against Him, and prospered?" Everything that moves you to question the integrity of God, or His love for you must be destroyed, so that the altar of your heart can be prepared for the fire from heaven. Paul said, "This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men." Give your destiny motion by clearing off every offense from your heart, to establish a thoroughfare to heaven in prayers. This is the way to maintain a good communication line with God.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are the reason I live. Destroy any form of unbelief in me, and engrace me to anchor my whole trust and confidence in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!