© 16 Colin Melbourne
When you are Spirit-filled you will not take offence.
It is not possible to walk in the Spirit and take offence at God or people, the word and Spirit confirm it, Psalm 119:165 KJV;
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
This is a word that shines a kaleidoscope of God’s glory to our spirits.
Meditate on this scripture, and the eyes of your spirit will behold perfect beauty from every angle.
No Respect of Persons with God
Yet, it was revealed by the Holy Ghost to a man familiar with slaughter.
King David knew from personal experience what it was like to butcher people created in the image of God.
Fresh from conquering mighty Goliath, the stripling David slew two hundred Philistines for the hand of King Saul’s daughter, Michal.
That was a prelude to his sanguinary rise to power; all within the plan of God for his life.
Some of the most anointed people I’ve met were, before they were born again; criminals, loonies, drug-addicts, compulsive thieves, drug-smugglers, prostitutes, fornicators, adulterers, and murderers.
I point this out to inspire you; The LORD has no favourites, and shows no partiality.
Therefore, since God has transformed them into saints, He surely wants to fix you too, if you have a shameful past or blood-guilt on your hands.
Christ’s Blood atones for all sin, and redeems the vilest sinner the instant they repent from unbelief.
Turn wholeheartedly to The LORD Jesus Christ, believe on; Him, His Name, and His Sacrifice: It is sufficient to make you clean inside and out: Surrender your all, and follow Him.
The Proof of the Pudding
King David prophesied in Psalm 119:165 KJV;
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
“Thy law” means God’s written and spoken word, His instruction, teaching, and commands: All of it is perfect, faultless, holy, right, and just.
We know because He says so (Deu. 32:4, Ps. 12:6, 33:4, Heb. 2:1-3), and we embrace, and obey it, and have thereby discovered from personal experience it is truly divine. (Jn. 7:17)
My Peace I Give unto You
And we live in great spiritual peace.
Our struggle is over, the search ended: Our needs are met in God’s all-sufficient word and Spirit.
So we love, and obey God’s word from our hearts: It is our joy and victory.
Nothing Offends
The second clause, and nothing shall offend them, validates that we are walking with Jesus.
When you walk in the light, as He is in the light, you will not take offence at anything in God’s law.
It is, “Yes Lord!” every time, and you spring into action without hesitation.
A preacher friend, who, before he met Jesus, was in prison more years than he was out, describes that willingness with a glowing grin; The LORD has you where He can spread you like butter on hot toast!
No resistance to His word, or Spirit.
Your heart is not hard, like butter from the fridge, but tender, submissive, melted by His love.
Thick-skinned Doves
There’s a further aspect to not taking offence.
When filled with God’s Spirit you aren’t troubled by anything, or anyone; insult, deprivation, injury, and calumny, simply roll off without leaving a trace of resentment: You take no offence at all.
Let men say, and do, what they will, simply keep walking in divine love, mercy, and grace. Forgiving every sin committed against you, as soon as it happens, and God will justify you in the midst of the Valley of Achor (Is. 65:10).
Don’t attempt to justify yourself, let God do it for you.
He does a better job than we can.
Privileged to Be Merciful
Not taking offence when we are sinned against is a choice: The believer’s choice, and privilege.
We notice that Jesus always forgave even the gravest insults. (Mtt. 12:31-32)
If He had taken offence, we’d all remain Hell-bound, waiting for the promised Christ to come, like the Jews today who take offence at Jesus of Nazareth.
God in the Flesh chose to take no offence when insulted, defamed, rejected, and even when brutally killed by Roman thugs, on behalf of the Jews.
You will also choose to take no offence when you are filled with God, and love His law.
Begin now, simply yield to Christ, decide not to take offence at anything, stay filled with God’s Spirit, and He supplies the grace to do what Jesus did.
It’s not difficult, because Psalm 119:165 promises;
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Here’s a good way to begin your morning prayer-time devotions too.
© 16 Colin Melbourne