(Am I easily offended?)
Matthew 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
(Could I be offended like this?)
Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
(It happened to Jesus' disciples, so who do I think I am?)
Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
(But wouldn't this be far better?)
Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
(Am I a lover of pleasures more than a lover of God?)
II Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
(Pleasure, in and of itself is not evil, but if I love that more than Jesus, then evil comes of it:)
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
I Timothy 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
(If I am that way, am I setting myself up?)
James 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
Isaiah 21:4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
(What about pleasures that are sinful for me?
If I can't resist pleasure, then how can I ever expect to be able to resist pain, when it comes?)
Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
(Will I faint?)
Proverbs 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
(How much better is this?)
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
(Maybe the affliction and the pain have not come to me yet, because maybe I am not living godly in Christ Jesus?)
II Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
(However, it will come eventually, but how much better if it comes for righteousness' sake?)
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
II Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
(If so, then it will work out for good:)
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
(So, should I not rather have this attitude?)
Psalms 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
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