"Implications"

 "Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." (John 8:41 KJV) 

  "This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." (1 John 3:11-13 NLT) 

 Some of the greatest reasons that we have for being alert and ready for whatever might cause us to be offended, is that of our witness of God's love in our lives. I say reasons, because offense comes on so many different levels; whether they involve our speaking out for what is right, our love for God, our mistakes that have been made, or maybe even, the rumors that might be told about us. 

 Within this verse, Jesus implies that these Jews, who think that they follow and do the deeds of God, actually do the deeds of the devil. In contrast, the Jews are implying that Jesus was born of fornication, as the rumors had it, because of the circumstances of His birth. 

 For those of us that might be feeling the pressure of implications of wrongdoing or having false stories and lies spoken of us; there should be nothing to be worried about if those are false and you have nothing to hide. God is the one who judges; He is the one that we are going to answer to for anything that we have done or not done. 

 I see that there are so many different areas of our lives where there is room for lies to be spread, mostly because of the speed in which information gets passed around. But, there is really nothing, absolutely nothing that can come against us and take away our salvation! 

 Let love be the answer to every situation and everything that might try and offend you. The reaction to whatever it is, is totally up to you...

"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called of God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all." Ephesians 4:1-6 NLT)