Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalms 119:165 KJV
The Bible often relates the Christian life to a race. I don’t see it as a sprint, but more like a marathon. We are in this race for the long-term. Or maybe it would be better to see the Christian life as a race with hurdles. Circumstances and problems come up in everyday life and too often we stumble. Which is the word that the NKJV says in Psalm 119:165:
“Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.”
When we are consistently having devotions and being faithful to church and small groups, we are much less likely to take offense at things. God grants us peace, which allows us to more calmly deal with the events at hand. Whenever I feel impatient, overly sensitive or insecure, I try to ask myself about my spiritual health. Am I walking with God? Am I overcommitted and doing things that God does not expect me to do? Am I asking the Holy Spirit to fill and guide me? How effective are my quiet times in prayer and Bible reading? The Psalmist is teaching us that nothing will offend us, or cause us to stumble, if we are experiencing God’s peace.
Hopefully we are not known as someone who is easily offended. God wants us to calmly deal with difficult circumstances, as well as difficult people. And speaking of people, how do you respond when someone has offended you. Some will get angry and blow up, but I think most hold it in and try to avoid the offender. But God has a better plan. Here is what Jesus tells us to do, ““Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” (Matthew 18:15) We are called to confront! I know it is much easier to dwell on our hurt and let the thought to continually ruminate in our minds. Or maybe we go and tell one of our friends about the hurt, and possibly turn it into a “prayer request”. But the Bible is clear. If we are offended, and we can’t quickly get over it, we must go to the one who offended us. This is how we fulfill the one anothers in the Bible. This is how we show love. And this is how we can remain joyful, no matter what comes our way.
