We hear it in the news, bold letters across social media and perhaps on a more intimate front, conversations amongst friends and family. One word sums it up, OFFENDED. It seems these days there is an offense for everything and everyone.  Offended , defined as ‘resentful or annoyed, typically as a result of a perceived insult.’ Most of the time we tend to quiet ourselves or withhold as to not offend, and politely… rightly so. Yet, while doing this, we hold back about our faith, our God, “I-I-I don’t know, talking about God might offend them…” So?

I find it somewhat humorous; there are those who are shocked that the Gospel of Jesus IS offensive. Of course it is! They want to extend only the softer side of God; love, joy, peace, hugs, and smiles. However, they fail to mention the reality of the gospel; the sin factor and the answer. Regardless of how tender and loving the message of redemption is presented, it will offend.   When a heart is convicted by the ‘living and active…’ word of God and their need for the Savior, with the Holy Spirit wooing them,  all they see is a reflection of what they are not. Offended? Yes.

The offense does not come from the messenger, (if presented in love) it is the message itself. “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” (Paul, 1 Cor. 1:18) Pastor Erik Raymond of Nebraska wrote: “There are sharp edges to this gospel. There is blood, death, wrath, sin, greed, and anger. You can’t sand that down without losing it all. Paul continued to preach Christ because he knew that this same (foolish) gospel was also the saving gospel.”

Jesus said, “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Lk. 5:32) The gospel wouldn’t be so tough if it wasn’t so stinkin picky about sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23). The message of the gospel is confrontational.

May we echo Paul’s word, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Ro. 1:16) When it comes to the bible and my God, I will not tenderize the meat of the message, white wash to gain a sparkling appearance, no matter how much I love bling! Nor will I water it down for easier swallowing. The message is and will be, Jesus. The One sent from Father God to redeem us back.

Jesus told His disciples He was the true bread of life, that partaking of Him, they will live forever. This in contrast to the manna provided in the wilderness, it was temporal and sustained their physical bodies only. What He was providing was spiritual. It says that for some this was too much, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” they said.  Jesus asks, “Does this offend you…” Many of these men turned back and no longer followed Him. (John 6)

Is Jesus offensive? Yes. In the most loving way, may we not water-down, white wash or temper the message.  Those ‘annoyed’ NEED to hear and see it!  The sharp edges of the gospel are meant to prick!

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Heb. 10:24)

Within the Jewish community, it is tradition that King David was the author of Psalm 119. He used this psalm to teach his young son Solomon the alphabet—but not just the alphabet for writing letters: the alphabet of the spiritual life.  In these 176 verses, the full focus is on God’s word. Some 155+ times: Word, law, statues, commands, precepts, decrees are used.  Each statement brings strong conviction, “Your statues are my heritage forever, I stand in awe of Your laws, The unfolding of Your words gives light, My heart trembles at Your word, All Your commands are righteous.”

I want to bring attention to verse 11, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Besides the amazing ability in having His word readily within us to always align our thoughts, behaviors, it has beautiful imagery.  Conveying what is being held is of great value, (“Your Word“) so valuable that it needs protecting. It refers to holding something, covering it, saving it for another person or time and purpose. Let’s read that again, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

Moses was ‘hid’ when he was born, Pharoah sent out a decree that all Hebrew baby boys were to be thrown into the Nile at birth.  Pharoah was a bit neurotic, concerned that the Hebrews were going to out number the Egyptians and soon over take them, “Do away with them!” So his mother hid him for three months, then as he grew, she needed to hide him among the reeds in the Nile. (Ex. 1 & 2)

The spies sent by Joshua “Go, look over the land, especially Jericho.” The King of Jericho got word the spies were there, sending folks to look for them.  Rahab knew these men represented God and NOT to be messed with,”I know that the Lord has given this land to you… for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” She hid them and protected them.  (Joshua 2 & 3) In both situations they were hidden and protected for a different time, for the lives of people, another purpose. Moses to deliver the Israelites from captivity, Rahabs’ whole family was saved because she protected the spies  and the spies gave reports of promise, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”

So we too hide God’s word in our heart, there will come a time when that word that has been covered and protected will be needed and used.  The Holy Spirit will use the words that we have read, mediated on and hid in our heart and mind.  Those rhema words WILL bring deliverance, promise and life as we speak them to another.

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Ps 119:18 ”  As we read God’s word, remember, it is not only for today, but we treasure it up for another time, people and purpose.  “I have hidden Your word in my heart .”

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Heb. 10:24)

• Geek Side Note: Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the bible with 176 verses. It is known as an acrostic poem, the verses are divided up into 22 stanzas, one for each of the 22 characters in the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight verses in each stanza begin with the same Hebrew letter.  Fun facts to share with your friends.  Now YOU can answer that trivia question “For $200 Alex Trebek!”

Ever been in a situation that seems just too big, too deep and basically moving way to fast that you feel it is impossible to cross or get through?  Not to mention extremely LOUD? You begin to look for alternatives to get to the other side, but frankly there aren’t any. You might as well just take a seat and watch life just float on by.  (metaphorically speaking of course) I’d like to share what its like to be at the water’s edge and have God deliver us across.

We begin our journey in Joshua chapter 3. To give a ‘brief ‘ summary of where we are on God’s time line, Moses has brought the Israelites out of Egypt and out of slavery. They are heading for the Promise Land, their inheritance, a place to call their own. Due to MANY circumstances (which could not be contained in this devotional) they wander for 40 years. Following Moses’ death, Joshua, whom now holds the reins of leadership, prepares the people to cross the Jordan River into the Land. Can you imagine with me, what it was like for Joshua as he opened Moses’ Will… “To Jeped I leave my sandals, to Eliazer my cloak, and to Joshua – THEM. The thousands, those who complain, the dusty ones. May Jehovah have mercy on your soul!” (TOTALLY kidding)

We pick up the story: Their tents pitched on the river’s edge. They could see it, after all these years, THERE it was! HOWEVER, the river stood between them and their inheritance. The river is at flood stage. They were SO close! Oh great, we get here and this is what we find, it is bigger, wider, faster and deeper than expected.

Joshua summons the people: “Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the LORD will do AMAZING things among you.” (v.5 emphasis mine) Looking at the flooded river, yep amazing is what it is going to take! I love this ‘amazing’. In the Hebrew it is ‘pala’ (paw-law), meaning as you would think, amazing, wonderful, extraordinary. But there is MORE… Now track with me, we turn back to Genesis 18:14, this is the story where God tells Abe and Sarah that in their old age they will have a son and remember Sarah laughs (who wouldn’t!) God says, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” Too hard, it is the same ‘amazing’ word as in Joshua. Is anything too amazing for God, too hard for HIM?

The river is RAGING. Joshua has the priests carry the ark of the covenant, God’s very presence on their shoulders. “When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s water, go and stand in the river.” (v.8) There was no, ‘march in a straight line, head held high and SHOUT with all your might,’ (that comes later at the walls of Jericho) Just stand. Verse 15, “Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from up-stream stopped flowing.” Go God! As they walked to the middle of the river, ‘they stood firm on dry ground.’  Twelve men were chosen to gather a stone from the middle of the river and take it to the other side, building an altar. Being symbolic of God’s deliverance … at the river.

Here is a wonderful analogy for us. As the Israelites passed by, the priests stayed right there in the middle of the river, until all were safe. God’s presence staying in the middle of OUR circumstance until we are safely on the other side and carry on in our journey. We take note that God solidly and very clearly stated that He getting them through these troubled waters would indeed prove to them that what lies on the other side, (Canannites and all the other ‘ites’) they would (with His help) be able to conquer! (v.9,10)

Coming to the river requires a decision. There is most often a tendency to hover near the water’s edge. Like with Israel, it also is a meeting place with God, a place of dedication, devotion and purpose. But we are NEVER to stay there. Reminder, the land has already been spied out, no need to await for recon reports, you are GOOD to go! Our inheritance (joy, freedom, assurance, security, love), awaits us on the other side. Our option? Stay and just watch the water go by or turn back … into the desert, wander some more, even go back into captivity.

Us… ‘too hard!’ God … AMAZING! Jesus says in Luke 18:27 “What is impossible with men, is possible with God.” God takes the ‘im’ in impossible and turns it into ‘I AM’. God crosses with us, stays with us and delivers us.

We do as the 12 leaders did, we take something from the river as a reminder and build it in our heart as an altar before God, HERE and now YOU preserved me, YOU brought me through, YOUR presence stayed there in the middle of it all, to see me to the other side!

I spoke this a few years ago at a women’s retreat, in the middle of the aisle I had a treasure chest full of stones. I felt God wanted us as women to identify ‘our river’. We, standing on one side, and NEEDING to cross over to our inheritance in God, taking possession. The gals were encouraged to take a stone and write on it (pen provided) what was ‘too hard’, what they wanted – NEEDED from God. I know the gal most impacted was the one upfront, looking back into the eyes of the women. God took me to the river’s edge, I dipped my toe in, then crossed, not alone, never alone.

Delivering waters need to be crossed. God with us, God in us, God delivering us from what we deem impossible.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Heb. 10:24)