Being Offended
Greetings in the name of the Lord!
I know I haven't sent anything out lately but this is what I have been feeling for a couple of weeks now. Thank you all for reading my material and I pray each of you will be blessed with this. Love you all!
My subject today is one that has affected every, single person alive. From the tiniest of babies to the oldest person alive all have experienced it. In the book of Genesis it was recorded and has persisted throughout all generations. It is the feeling of being offended.
Someone took away the baby's bottle, it was offended. Someone called us a name we didn't like in elementary school, we were offended. In high school we didn't get the grade we thought we should have, we were offended. Our first job, our marriage, the police officer (when he pulled us over for going too fast, of course), our doctor, our preacher, our best friends, etc. the list could go on and on and on. I can say I have been offended many, many times and it will happen many, many times again. It is just life. The way we handle that offense is what shapes us into who we are and who we will be.
I have been reading a book called "The bait of Satan". This book has caused me to really look at the offenses in my life. What have I held on to that has affected me in a negative way? Do I still hold on to that negativity? Do I still hold the offense against the person who offended me? I had to look at those questions and give an honest answer (to myself). As well as asking the question, "Will I continue to allow those offenses control my life?".
They do, by the way, control your life. Just when you think you got over the offense and the person that offended you, you meet them in the grocery store or God forbid in church, in front of your friends and fellow "saints". Now all of those feelings comes flooding back and you get madder than an old wet hen all over again. All the emotions come flooding back and you are asking the same questions all over again. "I thought I was through with all that! Yet here I am starting all over again. Will I ever get over this?". So back to square one I go!
The book really helped me to see things in a different light. What if God allowed that "offense" to test me? Well I can tell you I was a repeat offender (no pun intended) and failed that test every time.
What if the person that offended you really didn't mean to offend you and maybe doesn't even know they hurt your feelings? Well I am sure not gonna tell them about it after 14 years of giving them the cold shoulder... how would that look? I am supposed to be a "Christian". Christian just means to be Christ like! How can I be Christ like when I am carry around all this baggage? Uh, Nope, no can do!
So what if the offense is really conviction from God Himself? What if it is meant to help you release some spiritual things that aren't pleasing to Him? So how do I handle that? If God himself is trying to get my attention how do I fix that? I can't be stubborn, hardheaded and be bound and determined to do things my way because I don't have to tell you where I would end up? Maybe I need to learn to recognize where the offense is coming from.
The question I ask a lot of people is: If God himself were to ask you to change something in your life, no matter what if might be, would you do it? If you know it is God himself, beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you make that change? Or would you just continue doing whatever he asked you to change and hope He doesn't notice? Would you do your own thing even if it comes down to a heaven or hell issue? Think about it. Honestly answer the question (to yourself, of course).
I think all of us have to make decisions, almost on a daily basis, that keeps our eyes on Jesus. We can choose to be righteous or choose to be sinful. My sin and your sin can look totally different. We all live life in stages. God brings us to places in life sometimes little by little and where I am may not be where you are. This is why it is so important to not judge each other. When we point a finger at others there are 4 others pointing back at yourself.
Matthew 7:1-5
1 Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
2 For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.
3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your neighbor, "Let me take the speck out of your eye", while the log is in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.
But what if that person isn't being judgmental but is truly trying to help? Maybe they see something that we don't see. I am so guilty of automatically getting offended when someone tells me that they didn't like something or (prime example) my husband says "you shoulda done this...!" or "why didn't you do .....!". Honestly that sends me into orbit. I AM IMMEDIATELY OFFENDED! Even though, heaven help us, he is right! I don't want him to be right and I definitely don't want to be wrong. Being wrong makes me feel vulnerable! I don't like that feeling! But what if it isn't vulnerable that you feel but Godly conviction? Maybe God is using that person to motivate you to change. Think about it.
Here is an example of instant offense in the event that the offender is truly trying to help.
The scenario starts as two beautiful, young ladies leave the clothing store where they have been shopping and get into their automobile. As they are about to pull out into the street, suddenly a young, nice looking fellow pulls up beside them and rolls down his window. He waves his hands to get their attention.
The driver of the young ladies car, rolls her window down looking a little agitated. Instead of asking what the young man needs, she immediately (is offended) and yells I am married, as she proudly displays her wedding ring hand. Shaking his head, the young man try's to speak. However, she quickly raises her voice, "Didn't you hear what I said? I am married and not interested in you!".
The young man again tries to speak, "But ma'am!" This time she cuts him off waving her hands wildly and screaming, "Go away and leave us alone! What part of not interested do you not understand?"
At the point of extreme frustration, the young man has had enough. He yells over the lady "Ma'am I am just trying to tell you that you left your purse on top of your car!"
He was truly trying to help but she couldn't get past her offense. She assumed a lot that was not true and caused undo stress upon her, the passenger in the car and the nice young man. Had she just listened politely to what he had to say in the beginning all of the drama could have been avoided.
How many times do we do the same thing? Maybe we don't do it so flagrantly but inside we rant and rave. How dare them speak to me in that manner! We become blind with offense.
So now we can actual see the "Bait of Satan". It is being Offended!
I think we often are offended and don't recognize the fact that we are actually convicted by God. It is very easy to get caught up in offense and miss the lesson God is trying to get across to us.
Conviction is, according to Google: Biblically, being convicted means being deeply and internally awakened by the Holy Spirit to recognize one's sin, acknowledge personal guilt before a holy God, and understand the need for repentance.
Why would you repent over something you don't feel bad about? We don't. This is why the Holy Spirit will gently move on you and let you know, whatever you are doing, is not pleasing to God. It may be something that you've been doing your whole life and never knew that He wasn't ok with it.
The world we live in has conditioned us to be offended. The influencers of our world say that we should live life our way. Be who YOU want to be. Do what makes YOU happy! Don't let anyone tell you any different! You are your own person! If someone does happen to correct you then the world says you have the right to be offended.
While they are correct in the fact that you make your own decisions and no one else can determine the outcome of your life, the question is what does Jesus think about that? Really, what does the bible say about doing things YOUR way?
John 16:8 states that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment
If you believe the Bible is the true Word of God, then you must believe it is God speaking directly to us. And if you believe any part of the Word is true, then All of it is true! We can't pick and choose what we want to believe. This is truly why Offense is so powerful. If we become offended in the Word then we stop reading the Word and leave God behind. The enemy of your soul knows this will be your eternal down fall. I don't know about you but I want to see Jesus!
When you read the Word, through His written Word, God will speak to you. This is why it is vitally important to read the Word every day.
Many times I have sat down in utter despair, groaning "God feels like He is a million miles away! Why is He not speaking to me?!" Well, the honest answer is I wasn't reading His Word. Every time I read the Word I receive some thing from it.
I have read the bible thru several times and every time I read it I see something that is new to me. I always say "How did I miss this?" It is because the Word is alive. The Bible is the actual, living, breathing, tangible Words of God!
Read the Word of God for yourself! Study it! Examine yourself! Ask yourself: Are my actions pleasing to God? Do I have a relationship with God that is rooted in the Word? And am I willing to change?
When Jesus called His disciples He said "Come follow me." What does that mean to you?
Matthew, Mark, Luke all record Jesus saying: Matthew 16:24: "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
What does it mean to "deny yourself"? It truly means to stop making yourself number one and make Jesus Christ Lord of your life.
It is madness trying to please yourself. I don't know about you, but one minute I like this and the next minute it is on to something else because it's no longer cool! That is miserable!
Doing it God's way to true peace! His opinion is the only opinion that counts. I saw a saying and it went kinda like this: If you please God, It does not matter who you displease. If you displease God, It does not matter who you please. This is so true!
In the end, it only matters if you please God. There is nothing more important than pleasing God! Your eternity depends on it.
Offense is meant to distract you and cause you to look away from Jesus! You will get caught up in the offense and the one who offended you and totally miss the will of God! Being offended creates a gulf between you and your relationship with Jesus Christ! Not to mention all the blessings and miracles that can be when in true covenant with Him!
Let Godly people speak into your life and listen! Don't just listen but be a doer of the Word. Do whatever it is that God is asking you to do. I don't suggest letting just anyone speak into you but only those that have a proven relationship with Jesus Christ. Why? Because well meaning people can inadvertently say something that is not a true fact in the Word of God and we can believe it to be true. How many people get most of their bible from a movie that was dramatized to get views? Think about that.
Read the Word! Allow it to convict you. Allow it to show you want you need to do to be pleasing to God.
Conviction isn't meant to tear you down but it is meant to bring you to repentance. Conviction helps you to recognize that you have sin in your life and feel the need to repent. Which literally means to turn away from doing the things that aren't pleasing to God and declare to do right things (the things that do please God). As a note: All of us need to repent daily. None of us have made it to heaven yet.
It is not the will of God that anyone should be lost and go to the devil's hell. It was created for Lucifer, not for us. We endure the refiner's fire here on earth to sit in Heavenly places with Jesus.
The refiner's fire in the scripture:
Malachi 3:2–3
"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
The Refiner's Fire represents the purifying, testing, and judging presence of the Lord. Just as fire melts precious metal to float impurities to the top, God allows trials to remove sin and flaws from His people.
The Purifier of Silver is a refiner that sits by the fire watching the silver until he can see his own reflection in it. This shows God's close, personal care during difficult times.
The goal is the purification that leads to a holy people who can offer true and righteous worship to God
All of us need to daily pray for God to show us exactly what we need to change in our lives. What can I do to be in true covenant with Jesus Christ? How can I be in perfect alignment with you today?
Don't be offended if the answers you receive hurt your feelings! This is conviction! It doesn't matter if you have lived for God 3 days or 50 years, If you pray everyday God will continually be perfecting you. You will always be in the refining fire until He says it's time to move up. So, step back, take a deep breath and ask Him to show you what to do to be right.
There is an old song that says: He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be!
It is a process!
Pray: Lord, make me to know what I need to do to get closer to you. Give me the courage to move the things that are not pleasing to you out of my life and bring in the things that you want. Cause me to hear your voice and be obedient to your call. In Jesus name I pray!
