I Will Not Be Offended
Being offended is one the oldest plots against humanity. It’s trickery is cunning as it seeks to destroy what God has planned for our lives. Thus, the damage is severe and too many have been fooled, leaving untouched potential in its wake.
Offended means, “to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in: to affect (the sense, taste).”
Notice it causes resentment to the point of affecting our sense and even taste. This speaks to being off center in our emotions toward ourselves, others and even God. In this place, we feel we’re justified in what we’re doing, which creates a stubborn position in life.
All of this is a massive slope that leads to nowhere and hurts so much in our lives. This blinds us which causes us to be deceived.
However, over and over again so many of us fall into this with the guise of disappointment, rejection, unfulfilled expectations and more. Being offended creeps in and before we know it, we’re angry, resentful and somewhere we don’t want to be.
Yes, that’s right! We don’t want to be in this place because in our hearts, we know it’s not right. We can feel the muck of it filling our soul with unclean things and most of all, we know it’s taking us away from God.
And this is the plot of being offended, it takes away from God!!
But have you noticed, the plot of being offended is running rampant right now? It’s like, everywhere we turn, we have something to be offended about. This is causing division in families, friendships, churches, communities and more. The tension is thick with, “you’re either with me or against me” extremes which only causes more division.
All of this, fuels our offense to draw us away from God.
Please hear me, even when we’re justified to be offended, the end goal of this plot, is to take us away from God. This is because, offense closes our heart to the right things and opens our heart to the wrong things. This upside down position only leads to bondage and pain and this is why we must say, I will not be offended.
In Matthew 11:4-6, John the Baptist asked his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the messiah. He replied with this,
“4. Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5. The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Matthew 11:4-6
Notice, Jesus proved himself by pointing to the miracles He did and then said,”blessed is he who is not offended at Me.”
In other words, He’s the miracle worker, the one who can do anything. Will you believe Him? Will you worship Him?
This is powerful because when we choose to be offended, we’re saying, “Jesus can’t help me with this” or “I won’t allow Him to help me with this.”
Either of these are terribly wrong because there’s nothing that God can’t do. So even when we’re justified in being offended and wrong has been done to us, God has the power to heal us and free us from its vice.
This is why we must say, I will not be offended!
Because God has the power to help me through it. He has the power to help me overcome. He has the power to heal me of anything. Therefore, in this climate of tension, division, strife, anger, canceling things and more, we have a decision to make.
We have a part to play; furthermore, we have the power to refuse being offended.
I encourage you today, forgive others, let go of grudges, make adjustments in your life and choose to move forward with Jesus.
Don’t let anything hold you back from God because, life is too short and our time is now to be all Jesus wants us to be.
Remember, being offended closes our heart to all the right things and it opens our heart to all the wrong things. Don’t let this happen to you.
Jesus is a miracle worker!
He can heal anything because nothing is terminal with God. No wound, sadness, rejection, pain, anger and more is too great for Him. He’s the champ that is undefeated, and when we go to Him, we become a champ too!
So please decide today and declare, I will not be offended!!
Love you and believe in you,
PD