We live with disappointments. We get disappointed because we expect something to happen because we believe it is going to happen. A person has promised it, or we just believe that life should provide this for us. Life is filled with disappointments.

Disappointments lead to offense and bitterness. We get bitter because life didn’t provide for us what someone else got. We take offense because someone did not keep their word – the promise they made.

Luke 17: 1 "¹Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come,…" Life is filled with offenses, disappointments.

The Bible said this would happen in our text this morning. He said many would become offended and the reason is verse 12, "the love of many will grow cold."

What? Offense and bitterness is due to a lack of love? That’s what the Bible says. But in this series called "The First Priority" I want to show you that if you learn to accept the love of God and extend the love of God, then you will never become disappointed and thus you will never get bitter or become offended.

I am delighted to be a messenger that can tell you the good news that I represent a God who will never disappoint you and its all because He loves you.

Most of our love is founded in a need. I need you and you need me, so you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. I need to be loved so I will love you if you will love me. Then when someone does not express their love to us by giving us what we need, we get offended and turn away. But God is not that way.

But God does not need us but He has chosen to love us and His love is out of His mercies and not based on His needs.

Romans 5: 8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

God’s love is totally unconditional of our response to His love. His love was extended to us while we were still His enemies (Romans 5:10). So there is nothing we can do to cause God to stop loving us because His love is not based on us, but Him.

So how to live without every becoming disappointed in God? To accept God’s love for us through faith. You will never – never fully understand what God is doing in your life. But you must believe that God is too good to do anything else than love you. God is good all the time is not just a little song but a mighty truth that will liberate your life.

Romans 5:5 "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Psalm 119: 165 KJV says "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Other translations say, "nothing shall cause them to stumble."

You won’t every stumble if you love the law of God and it is from the Word of God that we gain faith (Romans 10: 17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" and its faith that causes us to believe that God loves us and will never do anything that is not out of love for us.

We get disappointed with people which leads to offense, hurt and broken relationships. Why? Because we don’t love them with the God-kind of love.

We need to take our offense stinger out. Pull it out. Tell folks – there is nothing you can do to hurt me, offend me because I love you.

Now that’s liberty. And liberty will attract people. Free to love and be loved.

What if people do try to hurt us and offend us? What do we do? Knowing that they really haven’t hurt us or offended us because that is what happens within us not from without.

Offense is an inside job.

But what do we do with these that want to hurt us?

Matthew 5: 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Look at Judas. Jesus washed His feet knowing that He would betray Him.

So, here is what we are to do:

But you cannot give agape love unless you are receiving it. This kind of love will not be learned watching television, or reading romance novels. It will come only from God.

How are you handling what God is doing in your life right now?

How are you handling other people right now?

The answer to both questions are proportionately the same.

If you are having problems with what God is doing in your life, then it will also show up with people. If you are having problems with people, then its because you are having trouble believing God’s love for you.

What are we to do with God’s love? Believe it.

What are we to do with others? Extend it.

Love near fails. I Cor 13:8