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I will seek the revealed Word of God to instruct me in every decision of my life. With His Word alive in my heart I will not be easily offended by trials and tribulations that try to blindside me.
My spouse and I know beyond a doubt that God has ordained our marriage. We will not be moved when our relationship is tested by the trials of life. God will keep us together, and we will seek only Him and consider no other option.
I will build my life and my home on the solid rock of the revealed Word of God. I will not allow the trials we face to deceive me and cause me to look at the offenses instead of my own character flaws. I will allow God’s revealed Word to transform my life and my home.
The disciples questioned who it was, and it ended up in an argument about which of them would be the greatest. It was dishonorable—almost like children arguing over an inheritance. There was no concern for Jesus, but a jockeying for power and position. What unimaginable selfishness!
Simon Peter was not building with the materials necessary for the kingdom of God but with supplies such as a strong will and personal confidence.
Satan had requested permission to shake Simon Peter so severely that he would lose his faith. The enemy’s intent was to destroy this man of great potential, who had received so much revelation. But God had a different purpose for the shaking, and, as always, God is way ahead of the devil. He allowed the enemy to do this in order to shake everything in Simon Peter that needed to be shaken.
Judas never longed to know Jesus in the manner that Simon did. Judas was not founded in Him. It appeared that he loved Jesus since he had left all to follow Him, traveled in His constant companionship, and even stayed under the heat of persecution. He cast out devils, healed the sick, and preached the gospel. (Recall that Jesus sent out the twelve to preach, heal, and deliver, not the eleven.) But his sacrifices were not out of love for Jesus or out of a revelation of who He was.
Numerous converts have prayed a “sinner’s prayer,” attended church, become active, and studied their Bibles. All of this, however, is without a revelation of who Jesus really is, though they confess Him with their mouths. When a severe disappointment occurs, they are offended with God and will have nothing to do with Him.
The serpent was twisting how the woman saw God by saying, “God doesn’t really care for you. What good thing is He keeping back from you? He must not love you as you thought. He must not be a good God!” She was deceived and believed a lie about God’s character. The desire to sin was then aroused because God’s Word was no longer life but law. And “the strength of sin is the law” (1 Cor. 15:56).
It is easy to become offended when we judge by our natural surroundings and circumstances. This is not seeing through the eyes of the Spirit. Often God does not answer me in the manner or amount of time I feel is absolutely necessary. But as I look back at every case I understand and can see His wisdom.
Trials in this life will expose what is in your heart—whether the offense is toward God or others. Tests either make you bitter toward God and your peers or stronger. If you pass the test, your roots will shoot down deeper, stabilizing you and your future. If you fail, you become offended, which can lead to defilement with bitterness.
