27
"And Jesus saith to them, 'All
ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it
is written, I will smite the
shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.
28 But after I am risen, I will go
before you into Galilee.'
29 But Peter said unto him, 'Although
all shall be offended, yet will not I.'
30 And Jesus saith unto him, 'Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night,
before the
cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.'"
"And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind
the word Jesus had said to him; 'Before the cock crow twice, you shalt deny me thrice' And
when he thought thereon, he wept". (Mark 14:72)
Peter didn't always stay balanced. He was impetuous and impulsive. He acted
without thinking first.
In Romans 12, Paul addresses the fact that though we are many members, we are still one
body.(v. 4-5)
He goes on to say
6 " Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,
whether
prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our
ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on
exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he
that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without
dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is
good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love; in honour preferring one
another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in
spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in
tribulation, continuing instant in prayer.
13 Distributing to the necessity of
saints; given to hospitality." KJV
We could become unbalanced in any of these gifts; either by engaging in one or more to the exclusion of all else, or failing to exercise the gifts we have. Neither extreme is balance. Balance is the "middle of the road", not going off in either direction very far.
The exception is love, verse 9. Love is doing good for others. Abhorring evil is also without constraint. We should constantly hate evil, and avoid it.
Doug Danner
Last update - 5/15/98
