Psalm 119:165 – Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them. (KJV)

I grew up in a time of peace, not war. I immigrated to my adopted country, and have lived here in war-free peace.

In the early days of my renewed Christian life, I came across today's Scripture verse. The phrases "great peace" and "nothing shall offend them" repeatedly rang in my ears. I so wanted those promises in my new life, even though I had not known war or anything war-like in my previous life.

I did love God's Word, but I was still often offended, and I did stumble in relating with people.

As a little girl and as a young believer, I daily read the Bible. But I had merely started to learn and to love what I was learning of God and His Word. My love was a beginning love, a very young love. I certainly didn't love then as I love now.

The word great has a straightforward meaning: grand, immense, massive, boundless, huge, enormous, and vast.

And there's nothing to misinterpret about the word peace: harmony, accord, friendliness, amity, serenity, contentment, tranquility, and reconciliation. It is a lovely word, isn't it?

The word nothing means just that: nothing, zero, naught, none, nil, zip, zilch, and nada.

To offend is to insult, affront, annoy, slight, spite, disgust, mortify, vex, ruffle, displease, or cause to stumble.

Many years later, is the promise of great peace and nothing shall offend fulfilled in my life? Oh, yes!

Can I say today that I never notice an offence committed in word or deed by others? No, I can't. I would have to be deaf and totally unaware of people's conduct and attitudes. The verse doesn't promise that we won't notice offences. It promises, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

I do notice offences, but these days, at this stage of my life, I am not offended. I've learned much more of God and His Word, and much change has been wrought in me.

Through our covenant love relationship with God, and commitment to reading and loving His Word, we are dynamically changing all the time. We learn who we are in God and what our place and role are in His kingdom, so that we generally become less and less offended. May we have peace constantly? Yes, we may. "Great peace?" Oh, yes — with exceedingly great joy and gratitude!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You are ever true to Your Word and Your promises therein. In Your good and perfect time, You fulfill Your Word and Your will in us, as we desire it and become surrendered and willing. Thank You, in Jesus' precious name. Amen and Amen.

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