Loving others is one of the most important and difficult commands Jesus gave us.

We are a messy, needy, and broken people.

We constantly have to deal with our own wounds and the wounds of others.

But if we can learn to love others well, rich, life-giving

relationship will be our reward. May you receive the love of your Heavenly Father,

given you by His grace, and be empowered to love others this week as we look to grow in our

obedience of Jesus' command to love others.

Welcome to the first 15 podcast.

Taking offense allows others to dictate your emotions and thereby your quality of life.

When we allow the expressions of brokenness and others to affect us,

we take our minds off of the ways of heaven and place them on the ways of the world.

If we are to effectively live in obedience to the second greatest commandment of loving others,

we must allow God to transform us into those who live without offense.

When someone wrongs me, I instantly feel a need for justice and fairness rise within me.

I feel as if I inherently have the right to be angry or even to

exact revenge for the wrong they committed. Offense stirs up feelings of insecurity, pride, anger,

and frustration that I will do just about anything to rid myself of.

But when I look at Scripture, I see Jesus modeling the exact opposite reaction to offense.

Matthew 27 is filled with wrongs done to Jesus.

As seen in his betrayal, the freeing of the murderer Barabbas, the floggings, a crown of thorns,

carrying his cross, the mocking by soldiers and the thief, and his eventual death.

Jesus had more right to take offense, an exact revenge than any human in all of history.

...