Daily Reading // Matthew 14-16
(Find the daily reading on Pastor Jim’s Blog)
https://jholm5.wixsite.com/pastor-jim-blog
S // SCRIPTURE
Select a verse from today’s reading
Matthew 15:12 (NKJV) Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
O // OBSERVATION
Why did this verse get your attention? Make a simple observation from the text
Jesus spoke the truth. He always speaks the truth. The truth is spoken by Jesus to direct us, guide us, and give us the information we need to make good decisions.
The truth is given for me to evaluate my behavior and make adjustments if necessary.
When the truth doesn’t line up with my behavior, the right response is gratitude and a change of behavior. The Pharisees instead chose to be offended and defend their wrong behavior. That response is self-destructive.
A // APPLICATION
How can I apply this to my life today?
I am more aware than ever of the tendency of people to be offended - their ‘offendability’. But apparently it didn’t start with us. People were taking offense long before we came along.
Watch out! Offense can get in the way of important behavior-correcting information.
When I’m tempted to be offended, I would be wise to ask a couple of questions about what is offending me:
Is this truth?
Should it correct my behavior?
Why does it bother me?
How can this make me better?
Don’t be offendable. Be correctable.
P // PRAYER
Express yourself in prayer
Jesu, Speak truth to me and give me the maturity to hear it. Amen.
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