Learn How To Employ The Word of God
And Nothing Shall Offend You!
“Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165
Today’s verse for meditation was my dad’s (The Late Bishop John C. Hackney) favorite and life verse. Many people would from time to time inquire of me if my Dad would every get angry – simply because of his calm and peaceful demeanor. My answer was “yes”. However in my opinion, his ability to apply this verse to every situation in life afforded him the ability to display the essence of the verse.
So, as we consider is verse, we must realize that our ability to refrain from offended, reveals the level of maturity from which we operate. The word offend in this verse refers to “stumbling block”. Therefore, when I permit anything to cause me to stumble or to divert my focus from the Lord; I have not learned to avail myself of His ever-abiding peace. I have not learned to avoid walking in offense.
The peace of God represents the wholeness of God; His completeness – nothing missing. When I realize that God has the ability to control the outcome of every situation; I will then receive that confidence in my spirit to rest in Him.
Reflect for a moment on a toddler as they begin learning to walk. They must learn to be confident, as well as how to balance themselves. When we haven’t learned to walk confidently according to God’s word; we permit the cares of this world, people and even our own undisciplined motives – to become a stumbling block and we lose our balance. When we haven’t obtained the power to have the proper balance in our lives; we stumble and sometimes fall. However, just like that toddler, we must get up, try again, and keep trying until we have obtained the balance and confidence required.
We must also realize that the spirit of fear is the anchored root system and underlying, hidden culprit that is still present when we are yielding to the influences of offence or of being offended. When ungodly fear is eradicated from our lives, we will recognize that offence will no longer be an issue.
Offences will come (Luke 17:1) – but I don’t have to permit them to divert my attention. If I prepare myself daily with an awareness that I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37); I will know how to receive the peace of God; which has the power and the authority to permit me to remain stable and causes me to triumph in every situation (Philippians 4:7). Peace is not always the absence of chaos. Peace is the mindset that affords me the ability to remain unshaken – regardless. Peace is the state of completeness – nothing broken, nothing missing!
To rest in the peace of God reveals that I have permitted the power of God to be my support system… and that I am trusting in His promises to be my daily provision.
Therefore, to prevent the offences that so readily appear in life from becoming a stumbling block in my life; the spirit of fear must be dealt with. I also must appropriate the mindset that God’s unconditional love will yet prevail in every situation. I can’t become distracted nor lose my balance; and above all I must trust the fact that God will vindicate every contrary wind that blows my way….and somehow….. always cause His favor to reign in my life! (Romans 8:28)
“Those who love your laws have great peace of heart and mind and do not stumble.”
Psalm 119:165(The Living Bible)
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