PEER PRESSURE FRUSTRATES GRACE
By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi
Mark 2:27 AMP "And Jesus said to them, The Sabbath was made on account and for the sake of man, not man for the Sabbath; ".
The law of the Sabbath required that the seventh Day of the week be set aside as a day of rest and communion with God. The scriptures says in Exodus. 23:12 " Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed". The disciples were accused of violating the law of the sabbath because they harvested food on the Sabbath.
The purport and intent of the Sabbath was for refreshment and this would have been defeated if the disciples had perished in hunger. This informed Jesus' response to His critics when He said the sabbath was made for man and not the other way round. This parable underscores the importance of regulating the pressures of life while seeking to fulfill divine purpose.
Many persons have lost the joy of living as a result of deviating away from the purpose for which they were created due to peer pressure . This is the reason for the increased rate of suicides globally. Once the joy to live is absent, hope is lost and the will to go on living is also lost. Hope is the result of faith in a trustworthy personality . Jesus Christ is trustworthy and Faith in Christ brings unfailing hope. Sometimes we wonder why as Christians, we go through very hard times ; the answer is in Romans 5:3-5 AMP ."....pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us...... " The pressures of life is the bedrock upon which christian character for victorious living is formed in line with God's purpose for our lives .
Many Christians have deprived themselves of this rewarding and glorious experience by allowing themselves become victims of negative peer pressure . This often occurs when we allow ourselves get overwhelmed by the pressure demand to conform to the prevailing positive or negative attitudes or actions of persons we consider as being of equal standing with us, in age or rank . Usually age is always the determining factor while making our assessments within a social construct. The scriptures speaks of negative peer pressure in 2 Peter 3:17 AMP"Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind]." The world is replete with persons who despise being under any form of Christian or biblical based authority but ironically they desire to be in a faithful relationship which is a derivative of divine authority. Most uncommitted religious folks would rather get married to or do business with a God -fearing believer instead of their kind ; this often leads to conflict of interest ,fear and crisis in relationships borne out of irreconcilable differences. This is a byproduct of negative peer pressure and leads to frustration of grace for excellence.
Negative peer pressures leads to the stagnation in spiritual growth and unfulfilled destiny . The scriptures teaches that a person can miss out on God’s favour by hanging out with the wrong crowd. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 AMP says "So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, [Isa. 52:11.] And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. "
We can't fully enjoy the blessings of the lord while in the regular company of those who mock the righteous, the scriptures says in Psalm 1:1-3 AMP." BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. "
We are expected to build a godly peer group from were we would receive encouragement and strength in our time of need ( Hebrews 10:25, 1Thesselonians 1:5-8) As you read this receive grace for freedom from any entanglement designed to hinder your glorious destiny in Jesus name.
prayer/counseling +234 8035536911. +234 8098536911, email: michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
Mark 2:27 AMP "And Jesus said to them, The Sabbath was made on account and for the sake of man, not man for the Sabbath; ".
The law of the Sabbath required that the seventh Day of the week be set aside as a day of rest and communion with God. The scriptures says in Exodus. 23:12 " Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed". The disciples were accused of violating the law of the sabbath because they harvested food on the Sabbath.
The purport and intent of the Sabbath was for refreshment and this would have been defeated if the disciples had perished in hunger. This informed Jesus' response to His critics when He said the sabbath was made for man and not the other way round. This parable underscores the importance of regulating the pressures of life while seeking to fulfill divine purpose.
Many persons have lost the joy of living as a result of deviating away from the purpose for which they were created due to peer pressure . This is the reason for the increased rate of suicides globally. Once the joy to live is absent, hope is lost and the will to go on living is also lost. Hope is the result of faith in a trustworthy personality . Jesus Christ is trustworthy and Faith in Christ brings unfailing hope. Sometimes we wonder why as Christians, we go through very hard times ; the answer is in Romans 5:3-5 AMP ."....pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us...... " The pressures of life is the bedrock upon which christian character for victorious living is formed in line with God's purpose for our lives .
Many Christians have deprived themselves of this rewarding and glorious experience by allowing themselves become victims of negative peer pressure . This often occurs when we allow ourselves get overwhelmed by the pressure demand to conform to the prevailing positive or negative attitudes or actions of persons we consider as being of equal standing with us, in age or rank . Usually age is always the determining factor while making our assessments within a social construct. The scriptures speaks of negative peer pressure in 2 Peter 3:17 AMP"Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind]." The world is replete with persons who despise being under any form of Christian or biblical based authority but ironically they desire to be in a faithful relationship which is a derivative of divine authority. Most uncommitted religious folks would rather get married to or do business with a God -fearing believer instead of their kind ; this often leads to conflict of interest ,fear and crisis in relationships borne out of irreconcilable differences. This is a byproduct of negative peer pressure and leads to frustration of grace for excellence.
Negative peer pressures leads to the stagnation in spiritual growth and unfulfilled destiny . The scriptures teaches that a person can miss out on God’s favour by hanging out with the wrong crowd. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 AMP says "So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, [Isa. 52:11.] And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. "
We can't fully enjoy the blessings of the lord while in the regular company of those who mock the righteous, the scriptures says in Psalm 1:1-3 AMP." BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. "
We are expected to build a godly peer group from were we would receive encouragement and strength in our time of need ( Hebrews 10:25, 1Thesselonians 1:5-8) As you read this receive grace for freedom from any entanglement designed to hinder your glorious destiny in Jesus name.
prayer/counseling +234 8035536911. +234 8098536911, email: michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
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