Tuesday 7/8/2025 Devotional
02/07/25 21:31
…and blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.
Matthew 11:6
How often do we hear people complain about the “exclusive claims of Christianity?” What they refer to, of course, are the statements of Jesus that “no one comes to the Father but through Me,” and others where He makes a similar claim, that He is the only way to the Father, that “there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”
But there are other things about the Lord Jesus that offend as well. He requires repentance. He wants me to admit my sin and accept the fact that it’s wrong and deserving of judgment. He tells me that without holiness no one will see God, and so He calls me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Him.
These things that He says, and in fact the very person of Jesus, are offensive to many people. So He sums it up in this simple statement: “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.”
If instead of resenting His call to leave my selfish, sinful ways and follow Him, I hear instead the gracious invitation to life at its very best that He is offering me here; if instead of being offended I discover the loving acceptance and peace in His forgiveness that He gives so freely, I am blessed indeed.
Lord, I know You're right, that the sinful, selfish ways that I think and act are wrong. Thank You for forgiving me and calling me to a better way. Thank You for letting Yourself be known by me.
Pastor Dan Giles
Matthew 11:6
How often do we hear people complain about the “exclusive claims of Christianity?” What they refer to, of course, are the statements of Jesus that “no one comes to the Father but through Me,” and others where He makes a similar claim, that He is the only way to the Father, that “there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”
But there are other things about the Lord Jesus that offend as well. He requires repentance. He wants me to admit my sin and accept the fact that it’s wrong and deserving of judgment. He tells me that without holiness no one will see God, and so He calls me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Him.
These things that He says, and in fact the very person of Jesus, are offensive to many people. So He sums it up in this simple statement: “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.”
If instead of resenting His call to leave my selfish, sinful ways and follow Him, I hear instead the gracious invitation to life at its very best that He is offering me here; if instead of being offended I discover the loving acceptance and peace in His forgiveness that He gives so freely, I am blessed indeed.
Lord, I know You're right, that the sinful, selfish ways that I think and act are wrong. Thank You for forgiving me and calling me to a better way. Thank You for letting Yourself be known by me.
Pastor Dan Giles
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