The Rule of Grace
In the last days the mountain of the Lord's house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All the nations will stream to it, and many people will come and say,
" Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so that we may walk in His paths." For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will turn their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will not take up the sward against other nations, and they will never again train for war. Isaiah 2:1-4
This prophesy is a desired future outcome. Currently there are so many wars and so much offence we can only long for such a day. I can see it when the Lord returns to rule for 1,000 years, yet scripture tells us that even then people rebel against Him. Imagine no more war! Only heaven could be that perfect, for wherever sin is hearts will be offended and war and fight. What a day when offense is prohibited and the purity of Christ will reign.
My Jesus was not offended by any but many were offended by Him: He spoke truth, defied legalistic thinking, set captives free.
How are we captured? We are captured when we are disappointed, offended, lured by deceitful living. As His people what is our mandate? To set the captives free. How do we do that? Waking in forgiveness.
We constantly hear of how the behaviours of others offend and hurt. Those who offend do it for various reasons, sometimes, often times, unwittingly. They are oblivious to our offense. Therefore we are the ones with the problem and how does it affect us? Makes us bitter, not better. We become self-righteous and isolate ourselves in an effort to protect ourselves, from what? Relationships, but relationships flourish when we deal with offence rather than walk away.
Over the years I have had many opportunities to be offended but I must, again and again, choose to face the problem and deal with it, in love. Every time I speak about another person's behaviour to me I am challenged to fix it, in love.
May grace prevail! Amen!
" Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so that we may walk in His paths." For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will turn their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will not take up the sward against other nations, and they will never again train for war. Isaiah 2:1-4
This prophesy is a desired future outcome. Currently there are so many wars and so much offence we can only long for such a day. I can see it when the Lord returns to rule for 1,000 years, yet scripture tells us that even then people rebel against Him. Imagine no more war! Only heaven could be that perfect, for wherever sin is hearts will be offended and war and fight. What a day when offense is prohibited and the purity of Christ will reign.
My Jesus was not offended by any but many were offended by Him: He spoke truth, defied legalistic thinking, set captives free.
How are we captured? We are captured when we are disappointed, offended, lured by deceitful living. As His people what is our mandate? To set the captives free. How do we do that? Waking in forgiveness.
We constantly hear of how the behaviours of others offend and hurt. Those who offend do it for various reasons, sometimes, often times, unwittingly. They are oblivious to our offense. Therefore we are the ones with the problem and how does it affect us? Makes us bitter, not better. We become self-righteous and isolate ourselves in an effort to protect ourselves, from what? Relationships, but relationships flourish when we deal with offence rather than walk away.
Over the years I have had many opportunities to be offended but I must, again and again, choose to face the problem and deal with it, in love. Every time I speak about another person's behaviour to me I am challenged to fix it, in love.
May grace prevail! Amen!
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