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| My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:12) |
When Jesus began his earthly ministry He interestingly invited
men of the sea rather than of the Temple to be His disciples. James and John
along with Simon Peter and Andrew--four fishermen who spent their days casting
their nets into the water-- accepted Christ’s call to become fishers of men.
Early in their discipleship, brothers James and John (whom Jesus nicknamed
Son’s of Thunder), took offense when a Samaritan town rejected Jesus (Luke 9).
Angrily they sought permission from the LORD to call down fire from heave to
destroy these offenders, just as Elijah had once done against the prophets of
Baal. However Jesus quickly rebuked them and revealed His ministry was about
saving souls, not destroying them. The Son’s of Thunder would learn in time the
art of casting love before men rather than destruction.
In his book The Bait
of Satan, author and Christian speaker John Bevere reminds the Church that
our enemy the devil is also fishing for souls. Not only does our foe seek to hook
us and destroy our testimony, he desires to reel us away from the Father and abundant
life. According to Bevere, one of the baits the enemy uses to lure us is
offense: an unkind word, rejection, exclusion or any kind of betrayal blinds us
to the devil’s horrid hook before us. Like fish which swim circles around a
tempting morsel, we can allow our minds to mull over an offense until our
hearts desire to bite back. Before we know it, we are caught in trouble and the
enemy gains control over us. Jesus did
say we would have trouble in this life because the days of man are filled with
darkness and evil. But our Savior also told us not to fear; “But take heart! I have overcome the world,” and
Jesus did so on the cross (John 16:33NIV).
Christ’s death on the cross was far more than an act of
obedience to the Father’s will. Jesus’ sacrificial death was the greatest act
of love ever expressed in our world. Undeniably love is the mightiest power
known to man. Consider how Jesus held great power, but His might was both
expressed and contained by His amazing love. When He healed it was driven by
love. When Jesus rebuked it was guided by His love. Astoundingly, our LORD beholds
the power to create, control or destroy anything, and yet all His acts are
rooted in love. Notably, it is love which overcame the Son’s fear as he knelt in
the garden of Gethsemane burdened with the plan of man’s redemption. Likewise,
it was God’s devotion which compelled Him to die upon the cross. And it is love
which continually and will forevermore conquer the devil’s dark influence over
man.
Simply stated, with Jesus there is no trickery or deception
in the Father’s plan: no hook to fear. There is but love in all its forms and
expressions to behold and abide in. When
we face the offenses of man cast before us by Satan, we have a choice: forgive
and maintain our freedom to abide in the Living Water or take the bait of
offense and be caught by the devil. Bevere points to Jesus’ warning that one of
the signs of the end of the age is the hardening of hearts between brothers and
sisters in the Church. Because of being offended many in the faith are
prophesied to fall prey to cold hearts and false teachers (Matt. 4:9-13).
Jesus proclaims the world would know His followers by the
way they loved on another, (John 13:35). By the end of his life the Apostle
John had learned well Jesus’ technique for saving the souls of man. For, the
Son of Thunder in his latter days was known as the Apostle of Love.
Oh, Father, may it be the same for us!
Tracy L. Frazier
Director/Founder
of The FOLD: Fellowship Opportunity for Ladies Discipleship
Video: Full
Circle; Free From the Trap of Offense - 1/4 - John Bevere
Music Video:
Natalie Grant – Perfect People
Scripture: Ephesians
4:30-32; And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of god, with whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption. Get rid of
all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving eachother, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Table Talk Question
ReplyDelete1.
John makes an amazing point in asking the question, “What if Jesus waited until you asked for forgiveness to forgive you…where would you be?”
a. How can this principle of Christ’s mercy change the way we offer forgiveness to others?
Hello everyone... looking foward to seeing the video I missed...The link is to Beth Moore...
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link error notice. Corrected...ENJOY!
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