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Faith by Debbie Wallis
Monday, June 15, 2015 is to address your desire for security. As long as feelings of security are rooted in you and your ability, the tendency to take offense will exist. If your feelings of security are rooted in whom you are through Christ your perspective will change and your response to the actions and comments of others will become more balanced. “I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13. It’s through Christ you can do anything. If you get offended over someone else’s strengths do you not believe that they too can do all things through Christ that strengthens them?
something valuable to yourself —the reminder that your security is not based on others’ opinions of you but on the security you have in Christ.
Jesus told His disciples on multiple occasions that if they prayed for anything in His name, or according to His will, they would have what they asked for. Do you believe that God wants you to be angry with others or to be forgiving of them? Do you believe that your security is in Him or in yourself? If you pray consistently, asking Him to help you not take offense, He will answer that prayer because it is In my opinion a mean and rude His will for you not to be easily Christian is an oxymoron. That’s offended. Ask Him to remind what Galatians 2:20 is all about. you of His secure and steadfast “I have been crucified with Christ. We are to die to our mean and rude love, He will answer that prayer. I have died, but Christ lives in me self and live as Christ did. You can confidently pray for help and now I live by faith in the Son Nevertheless, mean is mean, rude is in every offending situation of God, who loved me and gave rude and mean rude people hurts (Hebrews 4:16). His life for me,” Galatians 2:20. our feelings. But, being easily offended and taking it personal will Jesus was reclining and a woman We all know someone who is become less about you and more entered the room with an easily offended. Maybe you are about “why” hurting people hurt alabaster jar of fine perfume. The the one who walks through life people if you can see yourself woman broke the container and with a chip on your shoulders and through the perspective of your anointed Jesus’ head with the you can’t seem to get rid of it. If Savior along with seeing others as fragrant ointment (Mark 14:3). anyone dares to differ from your equal in that brotherhood of Immediately, she was criticized. idea, your way of doing things you adoption. In fact, “they rebuked her get easily offended or even easy to harshly” (verses 4–5). The anger. The tendency to take “You will keep your friends if you woman could have taken offense offense at little things is usually forgive them, but you will lose your by the way she was treated. But rooted in a false perspective of friends if you keep talking about Jesus came to her defense; security. Security, safety and a what they did wrong,” Proverbs: “Leave her alone” (verse 6). The good opinion of us from others is 17:9. We’re told to “cover” woman’s love of Christ and her something we desire. If you were offenses. The covering of offense is meek response to an offense were falsely praised or constantly related to love. 1 Peter 4:8, “Love honored, and “wherever the criticized as a child you may covers over a multitude of sins.” In gospel is preached throughout the associate good opinions with any relationship there are many world, what she has done will performance. When your security irritating things that should just be also be told, in memory of her” is based on your performance, you “covered” for the sake of love. By (verse 9). That is true today may feel threatened when someone covering an offense, or not through songs and sermons about expresses something negative revealing it to others, we are pouring out everything that’s of about you or just has a different empathizing with the offender and value to you and the feet of Jesus. view than yours. The natural extending the benefit of the doubt. response to that threat is to take God has given us two ways to offense or become angry. Even a “It is wise to be patience and it is to deal with offense. We are to casual or offhand remark can gnaw one’s glory to overlook an offense,” think about the other person and at us and steal our peace. But, that Proverbs 19:11. Forgiveness is an pray for their healing of the hurts, is our fleshes response not our honorable thing. When you forgive hang-ups and addictions they are spirit man. you give grace and empathy to the battling. If you belong to Christ, offender. When you overlook an you are fundamentally secure in The way to prevent taking offense offense, you choose to give Him. You do not need to react
Page #8 and defend yourself because He has promised to defend us (Isaiah 35:3–4). If you struggle to trust God or struggle to believe that you are secure in Him then pray for the strength to do so and He will answer (John 14:13–14). If you go through life with a chip on your shoulder, easily offended and just daring it to be knocked off… you are weighed down and unbalanced. You may have walked that way for so long that you don’t recognize it anymore but others see it as plain as light in the darkness. You cannot be all God created you to be or do all you are created to do; you cannot love with the love of Christ and be easily offended. Lay that chip on your shoulders at the foot of the cross and feel the weight lifted in Jesus name. If you don’t have a Bible please contact me at sfadebbie@yahoo.com and I will provide you one.
Red River Cowboy Church Day Camp Red River Cowboy Church DAY CAMP “WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT BULLYING?” Friday June 26, 6:30pm to 8:30pm IT ALL STARTS WITH KTCC YOUTH BAND, FELLOWSHIP, REGISTRATION AND COWBOY SUPPER. Saturday June 27 from 9:00am to 2:00pm we will study what the bible say about bullying. Music, activities and lunch for ages 4 through 17. Registration is on any Sunday at the church between 10:00 and 12:00 or call 903.532.9019 or 903.821.7006 We look forward to seeing you! Red River Cowboys Church is located on Hwy 691 off of US75 west of TMC hospital.
