A Love Of God's Laws

By: J. P.s Inspirations

Do we really love God's laws? One test of our love for God's laws is how we react to offenses.
Although we may be hurt by people or circumstances as we walk through this life, we are not to
be offended or hold on to hurt feelings; as doing so will bring bitterness into a life. Bitterness causes
one to react to offenses and strike back at others. We are to show love instead of trying to get even.
When we refuse to be offended by others, we show a testimony of obedience to God's Word.
Great peace is always a result of a great love for God, His Word, and others.

God also demands that we do not offend, as well as living free from being offended. (Mt. 5: 29-30; 13:41;
Matt. 18: 6-9; Jas. 3: 2) All of our ways are open to His eyes and our claims to keeping His Word. Our
hope in His salvation can be verified by the Lord by our actions, as shown in Scripture.

Offenses will come into everyone's life, but it is what we do with them that really matters. We
can become either "bitter or better" through all of life's many problems. No two people will ever see
"eye to eye" on every subject, doctrine, or way of doing things but they can disagree "agreeably" and
still keep a spirit of harmony and peace in their lives. Showing love for others is doing "what Jesus
would do" in our actions and words.

Disunity in the body of Christ will enter most of the time through offenses. Many times, those
who have been offended are holding on to opinions that are vain imaginations or
strongholds of the mind. Things may not be as one imagines, but people hold on to the way
they believe circumstances to be until their thoughts becomea stronghold. If allowed
to stay in one's mind, Satan can get a foothold to enter in and make one have a bitter spirit
and thus sin. We should always try and communicate with others whom we feel have wronged us
to work things out according to the Bible.

Vain imaginations are strongholds which are to be cast out of the mind. So many times
things are not the way one imagines, and many have quit walking with the Lord or being
a part of the Body of Christ because of how they handled what they felt were offenses.

We are told in God's Word, "Woe unto the world because of offenses (which also means temptation to sin),
for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh. We are
not to cause another to sin by our ways or actions, and if we let Jesus be Lord of our lives, we will
be "spirit led and spirit fed" which will help prevent offenses on our part. Paul told the Romans
to "mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which they had learned;
and avoid them. Their are many false teachers in the world today and the spirit of antichrist,
but we can have discernment and "try the spirits' to see if they be of the Lord.

We are told in the Book of James that "in many things "we offend all" which means "we all offend."
"If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. If we allow
the Lord to be Lord of our lives, we will learn of Him how to discipline our words and actions to be more
like what Jesus would do or say. He is a God of love and compassion and we are also to have these
characteristics in our lives. We can let the love of the Lord shine forth as we declare God's words to
others and know that we are pleasing in our ways to Him if we do so.

One day we will all be perfected. Until that time, may we seek to mature in Christ and be complete
so that we will walk in love and perfect peace. Is there trouble anywhere? As the words to an old
song tell us, "take it to the Lord in prayer." Are there heavy burdens you must bear? "Take it to the Lord
in prayer" We really do forfeit peace and bear needless pain when we fail to give our burdens and
cares to the Lord. Thank goodness we have a Savior who is touched by the feelings of our infirmities
and who has given us a Comforter to lead and guide us. We give thanks that all we need can be
found in Jesus who is our "perfect peace." We can have "victory in Jesus" as we hold on
to the hand of our Savior. He will abide with us forever.

Jo Ann Kelly © 2007, 2004.
J. P.'s Inspirations
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits intact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.
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