“Then said he unto the disciples,
It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times a day, and seven times a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” Luke 17 v1-4 AKJV
To be like Jesus. To live in a world of expectations of the better good winning is an instilled right of everyone who lives. To understand that there is a constant challenge between good and evil is to accept reality. All people are influenced by one or the other on the daily decisions we make, at home, at work, or where ever we go.
As a Christian-to be like Jesus- and to follow his teachings requires us to know him in a way that we can walk in his spirit, as we have been taught, and as that teaching by his spirit continues to come.
…“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Nor the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkeness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections of lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galations 5 v16-26 AKJV
To be like Jesus. It isn’t everyone accepts what many are shown many of the mysteries of the gospel, so to expect understanding of them is to be misguided. As I am offended, Lord, Jesus, help me not to offend others. Make my goals in this life be remembered as goals for eternal life not only for myself, but in my daily travels, for others as well. Let me understand better, and instill in me a greater fullness of the “fruit of the Spirit” that the witness of you will overcome the darkness shed by the “works of the flesh.”
Lord, forgive us this day, as we seek to forgive those who trespass against us. This is your day. Amen
February 20
Threecrosses 