Observation: Quick word study... (This really wasn't quick on my part, and if you have the time, I would highly reccomend doing this study for yourself and seeing what you come up with - I used the Websters 1828 American Dictionary of English for the following definitions.)
BLESS'ED - Happy; prosperous in worldly affairs; enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God;
OFFENDED - Displeased (The definition of offend also includes to make angry or to affront)
And finally, the determining word and the one that really required studying.... (This is the full definition, not a paraphrase because it really is an amazing little study...)
IN -prep. [L. in.] In denotes present or inclosed, surrounded by limits; as in a house; in a fort; in a city. It denotes a state of being mixed, as sugar in tea; or combined, as carbonic acid in coal, or latent heat in air. It denotes present in any state; as in sickness or health. It denotes present in time; as in that hour or day. The uses of in, however, cannot, in all cases, be defined by equivalent words, except by explaining the phrase in which it is used; as in deed; in fact; in essence; in quality; in reason; in courage; in spirits, &c. A man in spirits or good courage, denotes one who possesses at the time spirits or courage; in reason is equivalent to with reason; one in ten denotes one of that number, and we say also one of ten, and one out of ten.
So basically (and this is MY understanding - if you do this study and find something different, please leave me a comment or send me an email - I'd love to talk about it with you!) this verse tells is that whoever is not displeased or made angry when possessing Christ (basically being saved) will enjoy spiritual happiness and the favor of God.
Application: When I noticed this verse, this was not what I expected to find at all. It stuck out in my mind because it seemed like an interesting way to end the answer to John the Baptist's disciples. ( The whole scripture is Matthew 11:2-6) when they questioned who Christ was. So I went through to check the possible meanings of the words. (this is the only time I ever I diagram sentences, but it's so necessary during bible study that my children will definitely learn how!) What I discovered is that Jesus tells John the Baptist's disciples to go back and tell John about the changes they saw in the people who had come in contact with Jesus - the blind could see, the deaf could hear, the lame could walk, and those that had received salvation had found peace and happiness even during situations that would otherwise cause anger or displeasure.
Bingo! Salvation is always evident... you do not leave the cross of Calvary or the Saviour who died there without being noticeably changed... and this is our change... When these people came to Christ... just as I, and many others have done, He changed them. He gave them a new heart and a new life... a new way to deal with strife and trials... through the peace of God. (Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalms 119:165) He changed them from the inside... and I can say from experience, that it is a change that you cannot bring about on your own, and it is a change that you cannot hide. When you come into contact with Jesus... you do not leave unchanged. And other's will, and should notice the difference.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You. Thank You for Your word, for the lessons You showed me today, for the prayers that You answered... Thank You especially for the peace that You have blessed my life with since You saved my soul. Lord, there are so many out there who are struggling today. I pray Lord, that You would send someone... send me... to lead them to Your loving arms. I pray Lord, that their struggles and anger and displeasure would find it's end at Calvary, and that today would be the day of salvation, and the beginning of a new life in Christ. Again Lord, thank You for saving my soul, for opening my eyes and for giving me that wonderful peace of God. In Jesus name, Amen.
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