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 award. May you receive the love of your 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 of teen podcast.

Our verse for today comes from Proverbs 1911 and reads,

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

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

that they've 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 Brabis, the floggings, a crown of thorns,

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

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

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