Friday, September 21, 2018

Destiny At Risk

One of the most dangerous conditions of the heart is offense. Offense will distract us from our God-given course. David said: "Give ear to my prayer, O God; and do not hide Yourself from my supplication. Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted, because of the voice of the enemy..." (Psalm 55:1-3 NAS).

David had become troubled and distracted by the hurt caused by his enemies. These enemies were not strangers. The wounds of a stranger don't cause nearly as much pain as do the hurt from those dear to us. Those who troubled David were some of his closest companions.

Verses 12 and 13 say, "For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend..." (NAS).

It was not only the rebellion of David's son, Absalom, who hurt and betrayed him, but it was also the betrayal of his trusted counselor and friend Ahithophel. Why would David's friend and counselor hurt and betray him? Ahithophel was Bathsheba's uncle—the woman David defiled through adultery. When Bathsheba's husband, Uriah wouldn't sleep with her, David sent him to the frontline of the battlefield and had him murdered. David hoped that people would assume Uriah was responsible for Bathsheba's pregnancy. Ahithophel never forgot what David had done to his niece and this was his chance to get even with David.

After David had been betrayed by his companion and friend, he had a decision to make. Would he allow this unbearable hurt to turn to offense? If he did, it could detour him from God's plan for his life. Though the pain cut deeply in his heart, David would not allow offense to take root. Verse 22 tells us what he did: "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."

David had to cast his burden—the hurt, disappointment, and betrayal—on the Lord. He had to release it or it would destroy him. Offense and hurt come with a purpose—to detour us from God's plan for our lives.

When persecution and hurt come, we cannot become offended. We must recognize offense for what it is: a distraction designed to kill, steal, and destroy our future. Mark 4:17 warns us:

"And they have no real root in themselves, and so they endure for a little while; then when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately are offended (become displeased, indignant, resentful) and they stumble and fall away" (AMP).

I call those who "have no root in themselves" shallow. These people only look at the immediate situation instead of looking at the big picture. Looking at the big picture will enable us to endure immediate discomfort or disappointment. Jesus said it was the joy set before Him that enabled Him to endure the cross (see Hebrews 12:2).

When pain and affliction come, we must realize something bigger than the hurt is at risk—our destinies! Resist offense.

Mark Chapter 4

King James Version (KJV)

4 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

14 The sower soweth the word.

15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?