Praise God for the Bible which provides many benefits in our lives including teaching us to build our lives right. Unfortunately, many times we use the Bible to measure other people’s effectiveness in building their lives right, and we miss the main purpose of the Bible!
We need to handle the Bible properly in order for it to produce the effect that the God desires in our lives. This book is so powerful that it can cut people and create great harm if mishandled!
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Matthew 7:15-17
One of the things that the Bible instructs us to do is to examine other people’s lives and see if it produces the fruit the scripture describes. The Lord encourages us to do that, so we can be wise in how we relate to others. The danger comes when we take it a step further, and now we are offended by the person whose life does not match up with the fruit we desire to see in their lives.
Honestly, I have been guilty of this offense many times. I don’t understand how one can claim, teach, and encourage others to live a certain way, but their own lives suffer in the same areas that they are proclaiming truth to others. It is a difficult and painful thing to see. However, offense is not the answer!
Offense only traps us and affects our relationship with the Lord. The offense eventually causes hardened hearts towards others and God. If Offenses go unchecked, they can cause broken relationships, and they will eventually lead one away from the church and even the Lord. This can all happen in the name of fruit inspection and being spiritual!
Is there someone whose Christian life is offensive to you?
I will share more on this in the next devotional.