Last month my blog focused on my Mom and how she has set her mind on things above, and the legacy she wants to leave behind for her children. A legacy filled with faith, gratitude, patience and love.
My mom and I have several things in common, one of which is a stubborn streak, its not necessarily a bad thing as long as the focus is on doing things God’s way.
One of the things I stubbornly set my mind upon is “I absolutely refuse to be offended”. What led to this was a book I read that spoke about offenses. “The Bait of Satin“ by John Bevere
I read it early in my Christian walk and it had a tremendous influence on my life. The teaching was very clear. Our response to offense would determine our future. Luke 17:1 states. It is impossible that no offense will come….
The question is how will you handle offenses? This will determine your future. We can live our life rejoicing in the victory that Jesus won for us at the cross, or succumb to seeing yourself as a victim by holding on to an offense.
Victor or victim the choice is ours!!!
I have stubbornly set my mind on choosing victory. I absolutely refuse to be offended. Does that mean I never experience being offended. No, it does come my way, but as soon as I feel it, an alarm goes off inside of me and I run (not walk) to Jesus and tell him all about it. I don’t hold anything back. The thing is it’s not gossip when you tell Jesus about it!!!
Jesus loves the person that has offended me just as much as he loves me. Therefore it’s a safe place to go.
Only God can heal your wounded heart. Only God can pull out those roots of bitterness and anger that will entrap you if they take root!! Only God will lead you out of that victim mentality into a place of victory!!!
Jesus said these words: Many will be offended, will betray one another, will hate one another than many false prophets will rise up and deceive many and because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold (Mathew 24: 10-12)
Many will be offended…. Offended people build walls around themselves for protection. Unfortunately those walls are a hardened heart which in turn leads to protecting yourself at all costs even at the expense of others Offended people are capable of betraying others, it is progressive, one thing leads to another.
Jesus warns us. Lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold.
The love of many will grow cold. Many will be offended… but he didn’t say all
You and I don’t have to be a part of the many.
Victor or Victim the choice is ours!!
Romans 8:28 states. All things work for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purposes.
Can offense work for our good? Most definitely!!
Isaiah 48:10 Behold I have refined you, but not as silver I have tested you in the furnace of affliction
When someone offends us it is a trial.
We can become consumed with blaming others and putting them on trial, accusing them, focused on what they did to us, and become ensnared in that offense. Or we can embrace God as he refines us in the fire, which brings to the surface the impurities, the bitterness, the envy the anger, the un-forgiveness. As it comes to surface we can learn to let go of it.
You may be saying ok I hear you. But … How do I let it go?
It’s in the fire that the true condition of our heart is revealed, and it’s in that moment that we can be set free. The choice is ours!! We can hide from the things God is revealing to us and turn our thoughts instead to the one who offended us and stay trapped in that offense. Or we can see ourselves through God’s eyes, eyes that are filled with love, compassion and grace. As we turn from our sin and repent God will flood our souls with mercy and forgiveness and His unconditional love
It is truly the goodness of God that leads me to repentance.
It is His love, His mercy, His grace and His forgiveness that opens the door to my heart, so I am able to give it to others. Jesus said “the love of many will grow cold “the Greek word for love He is speaking of here is AGAPE love. Agape love is the love Jesus gives to us, it’s unconditional, a love that doesn’t expect anything in return. Again Jesus said “the love of many will grow cold”… We need to remember He didn’t say the love of all.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 says, Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self- seeking.it is not easily angered it keeps no record of wrongs
Victor or Victim the choice is ours!!!