Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Trap of Offense

“Making up with a friend you have offended is harder than breaking through a city wall”.      Prov.18:19  CEV

Jesus warns us in His Word that offenses would come and they would destroy relationships.   Therefore, we must learn to forgive and forget in order to escape the trap of offense.
Satan knows that no one can hurt us worse than a family member, friend or another Christian.  He is always looking for an opportunity to cause an offense to distract or separate us from our walk with Christ.

King David wrote of this pain in Psalm 55: 12-14, “It is not an enemy who taunts me—I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them.
 Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend.
What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God”.


Offense is defined by Webster as, “a sin or crime, creating resentment, displeasure, a feeling hurt, angry, the act of attacking...”
The Greek translation of “offense” is “enticement to sin”.

So if we are offending someone carelessly and on purpose, we are enticing them to sin.   Or, if we are offended at someone, it can lead to sin.  Anger can lead to hatred, jealousy, bitterness and unforgiveness which entangle us to Satan and gives him control over our emotions.
How many people in the Church sing: “I love you Lord, but I hate…….!”

Some people wake up every morning looking to be offended and they are not disappointed.  They find ways to feel neglected and offended on a regular basis.
One of the greatest indicators of spiritual maturity is revealed in how we respond to the weaknesses, selfishness, jealousies and potentially offensive actions of others.

“Smart people know how to hold their tongue;
their grandeur is to forgive and forget”.     Prov. 19:11  The Message Bible


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