Tuesday, July 30th, 2024
Lately it seems like one of our culture’s biggest hangups is taking offenses. It almost seems as if people are actively looking for things that they can be offended about. They get offended by what we celebrate or don’t celebrate, the flags we fly or don’t fly, the words we use or don’t use and on and on. And the enemy surely plays into this. He knows that many are easily tempted by the “people-pleasing” carrot. They don’t want others to dislike them or think poorly of them so they will go to great lengths to fit in and go with the cultural flow.
As Christians there is very little in our culture that lines up with the path that God has called us to. This is the result of our living in a fallen world and the battle between light and darkness. That is why Matthew 7:13-14 talks about the narrow gate and the broad gate. The broad gate presents little resistance because the enemy wants to keep those stuck in it’s flow from leaving. The narrow gate only goes one direction, God’s will. The enemy will use anything to keep us from that path, especially the offensive words of others.
So how do we press on without taking up offense? Let’s look at Matthew 5:11-12:
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
I don’t know about you, but for me this scripture has the ability to soothe, encourage and strengthen my soul and spirit. If we are doing the will of our Father and someone is offended by us or even persecutes us in the process it says we are building up treasure in heaven. It doesn’t just say brush it off, or forgive them, it actually says we are blessed and that we are to rejoice. This is counter-cultural to getting offended. There is no place in God’s kingdom for anger, bitterness or offense. Once we can fully grasp this then we will recognize and quench the enemy’s tactic before it goes any farther.
Final Thoughts…
The only voice that matters is God’s. If we are doing His will, we can know for sure that other voices will try to distract us and undermine our work. When we are tempted to fall into a place of offense and bitterness it’s important to see this instead as a blessing. It’s a sign that we are in fact on the right path. It’s not up to us to defend God and His plans. He is more than capable of doing that Himself. And if we are to have any chance of converting our offenders, it won’t come by getting angry at them or taking offense. Love is the key that will open that door. Love is the choice that builds up treasures in heaven.