Isn't taking offense normal? Aren't we supposed to get offended? Isn't anger at sin justifiable? If God gets mad, why can't we?
Brant Hansen asks a radical, freeing question: What if Christians were the most unoffendable people on the planet? And he offers a life-changing idea: "righteous anger" is a myth, and giving up our "right" to be offended can be one of the most healthy, simplifying, relaxing, refreshing, stress-relieving, encouraging things we can do
CONTEXT AND CORRELATION
There is a story of Jesus casting out a demon from a young boy in Mark chapter nine. Commentaries and different Bible versions leave you in the dark as to whether the boy was actually dead or not. Here is a biblically supported reason for believing the boy seems to have died. I will use contextual support for this interpretation.
· The story of the transfiguration precedes our story. Peter, James and John see a glorified, resurrected Jesus that shone like the sun. Thus, messaging that Jesus will die and rise glorified. This follows 8:31. Jesus clearly states He will die and rise again. Our story (9:14-32) could be told to give the reader support to the newly introduced idea Jesus will rise from the dead.
· Again, Chapter 9:9-10 speaks of the Son of Man rising from the dead.
· The words in our story point to the boy actually being dead.
o The boy became like a corpse. 9:26
o The boy was believed to be dead. 9:26
o Jesus took him by the hand and “raised him”. 9:27
· The story of Jesus walking through Galilee teaching His disciples about His trial, death and resurrection (9:31) follow our story of the young boy. Here He clearly proclaims He will die and rise again.
Mark chapters 1-8 tell the reader who Jesus is. Chapters 9-16 tell the reader what Jesus came to do. Dying and rising from the dead is what Jesus came to do. Furthermore, because Mark wants the reader to make the switch from who He is to what He came to do, He pivots to a heavy theme of dying and rising repeated in 8:31 and 9:9-10 (leading into our story); and 9:31; 10:34 after our story. Our story is found among this grouping.
Up to chapter 8, Jesus has not spoken of His resurrection from the dead. But when He does speak of it, He does so in a matter-of-fact way leaving no gray area. I say this having contextual support for this interpretation. Do you have contextual support for why you believe what you believe?
But not so fast! Do you have correlation? Correlation is seeing your passage in light of the other similar passages found in other books. Do they say the boy died? Do they say Jesus brought him back to life?
Actually, no. Matthew 17:14-23; Luke 9:37-45; do not even hint at the idea that Jesus raised the child from the dead. Matthew says, “the boy was cured at once.” Luke says Jesus, “healed the boy and gave him back to his father.” That being said, we should take Mark’s words, “the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead’” (Mark 9:26) as being exactly what the author meant.
Context is extremely important. I cannot emphasize enough how you should always look at passages in light of context. Nevertheless, also entertain correlation. What do the other authors have to say about the same event? Do other books or other authors of Scripture support your stance? Do you have correlation support for why you believe what you believe?
KINGDOM OF FORGIVENESS
There is a series of teachings by Jesus in chapters 18-20. Jesus focuses heavily on forgiveness in 18:15-35. In these accounts is the famous “seventy times seven” statement (18:22) by Jesus when Peter asks if he should forgive a brother seven times. This “seventy times seven” phrase is used only one other place in the Bible.
The first place it is used in Genesis 4:24 in the context of the fall and the sinful behavior that followed. Lamech refers to God’s decree that no one is to take revenge on Cain for killing Abel or they will receive a “sevenfold” judgment. Lamech kills a young man and he himself decrees that if anyone would take revenge on him it would be dealt to them “seventy-sevenfold”.
This is the curse at work. This is stinking thinking. Lamech displays a self-righteousness that almost takes your breath away. He certainly does value himself far above everyone else. The sin nature and self-centeredness has taken root in man at the deepest levels. The lives of those he took seem to be of little account and there is no remorse. The real shame in Lamech’s view would be if anything should happen to him because of his sin.
Back to Peter’s question and Jesus’ answer. By quoting the same words in the context of forgiveness rather than wrath, Jesus is indicating two very important principles a disciple needs to know. One, the Kingdom of Heaven (v.23) is a place only for those who have found forgiveness and forgive others. Secondly, Jesus has come to reverse the curse brought to humankind through the fall. True forgiveness can be the life of His followers who will live beyond the sin nature, above self-centeredness, above self-exaltation. The Kingdom is a place of forgiveness and only Jesus’ followers will be there.
HOLINESS AND HUMILITY
A. W. Tozer speaking on Christian leadership rightly states, "Triumphs are not won by men in easy chairs. Success is costly." When we hear these words we usually think of our time or our money. But I want you to consider, when making disciples, it could cost you your pride. What? Yes, your pride. One of the key signs of holiness of heart and life is humility. Humility is Christlike. It is the life we are called to. It is doing God's will, not our will.
Peter commands his readers to "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility" (see 1Peter 5:5-7) Put it on. It is something to pursue. It is a choice. It is a decision. It is an attitude of the heart. Serve others. It may mean giving of your time to others. It may mean giving money. But mostly, it means obeying God, being a servant leader and considering all your disciples as better than yourself. Live out humility before your disciples. Teach them what it looks like. Yes, it is going to be costly, but victory always is.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has casused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:3-4
Keep me, O Lord, from waxing mentally and spiritually dull and stupid. Help me to keep the physical, mental and spiritual fibre of the athlete, of the man who denies himself daily and takes up his cross and follows Thee. Give me good success in my work, but hide pride from me. Save me from the complacency that so frequently accompanies success and prosperity. Save me from the spirit of sloth, of self-indulgence, as physical infirmities and decay creep upon me.
For true evangelical faith is of such a nature that it cannot lie dormant; but manifests itself in all righteousness and works of love; it dies unto flesh and blood; destroys all forbidden lusts and desires; cordially seeks, serves and fears God; clothes the naked; feeds the hungry; consoles the afflicted; shelters the miserable; aids and consoles all the oppressed; returns good for evil; serves those that injure it; prays for those that persecute it; teaches, admonishes and reproves with the Word of the Lord; seeks that which is lost; binds up that which is wounded; heals that which is diseased and saves that which is sound. The persecution, suffering and anxiety which befalls it for the sake of the truth of the Lord, is to it a glorious joy and consolation.
Dear heavenly Father, You are a Holy God and I desire to be holy too. Set me apart unto You, to live my life in a manner that is worthy of You and pleasing to You.
Search my heart I pray, and if there is any cherished sin lurking within, I ask that You would root it out, for I know that only the one that has clean hand and a pure heart may stand in Your presence.
Purify my heart, cleanse my inner thoughts and examine every motive behind my acts and attitudes, for I desire to live in holiness of heart - and if there is anything that is displeasing to You I ask that in Your grace, You would root it out, so that I may live in holiness all the days of my life, clothed in Christ’s righteousness separated unto You and walking in godly love – this I ask in Jesus name,
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.
"Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn't offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren't impossible to you, they are insulting to God."
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that
I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we, from time to time most grievously have committed by thought, word, and deed against Thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous upon us; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us most merciful Father; for Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake. Forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever serve and please Thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of Thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
"Let no one profess to trust in God, and yet lay up for future wants, otherwise the Lord will first send him to the hoard he has amassed, before He can answer the prayer for more."
" Have you ever said, 'Well, all we can do now is pray?' ... When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God."
Gracious Holy Spirit, so much of my life seems to revolve around my interests and my welfare. I would like to live just one day in which everything I did benefited someone besides myself. Perhaps prayer for others is a starting point. Help me to do so without any need for praise or reward. In Jesus name. - Amen.
Open unto me - light for my darkness.
Open unto me - courage for my fear.
Open unto me - hope for my despair.
Open unto me - peace for my turmoil.
Open unto me - joy for my sorrow.
Open unto me - strength for my weakness.
Open unto me - wisdom for my confusion.
Open unto me - forgiveness for my sins.
Open unto me - tenderness for my toughness.
Open unto me - love for my hates.
Open unto me - Thy Self for my self.
Lord, Lord, open unto me!
To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.
O merciful God,
whatever You may deny me,
do not deny me this love.
Save me from the idolatry of loving the world,
or any of the things of the world.
Let me never love any creature
but for Your sake and in subordination to Your love.
Take full possession of my heart;
raise there Your throne
and command there as You do in heaven.
Being created by You, let me live to You;
being created for You,
let me ever act for Your glory;
being redeemed by You,
let me render to You what is Yours
and let my spirit ever cleave to You alone.