Refusing to Be Offended
How many of you could still use a miracle today for yourself or for someone else? Where do you need a miracle in your life? For the miraculous to take place, the Bible is clear in the importance of having faith. Truly, we want Jesus to be amazed at our faith instead of Him amazed about our unbelief. For the miraculous to take place, the Bible is also clear in the importance of refusing to be offended. When people take on or harbor offenses in the heart, no great miracle could happen.
How many of you have ever been offended?
- It seems that we often tolerate broken relationships and harbor offenses against each other. We say we don’t hold offenses or bitterness which stems from being offended but in actuality the offense has been cultivating for quite some time. We need to understand that having good healthy relationships are important. We need to make every effort to bring healing into relationships even if it is difficult and we can agree that it will be. But for us to be able to take hold of the miraculous then we need to learn to let go of offenses that come our way.
- Matthew 5:23-24, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
Offended by the truth from Jesus
- Mark 6:1-3, “Jesus left there and went to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. Where did this man get these things? they asked. What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.”
- Matthew 15:10-12, “Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them. Then the disciples came to Him and asked, Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
- People took offense at Jesus because He simply spoke the truth. When someone speaks the truth in love like Jesus did we get offended. Jesus spoke the truth, gave a correction and people were offended. We simply get offended by the truth.
Choosing not to be offended releases God’s miracles.
- Mark 7:24-30 Jesus Honors a Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith
- 24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet He could not keep His presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about Him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27 “First let the children eat all they want,” He told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then He told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
- Trust that there will be plenty of opportunities to be offended. Yes, you will be offended. It’s easy to get offended but don’t take the offense. Don’t give permission for the offense to lord over your life.
- Don’t take on an offense that was meant for someone else. Often, when people we love are offended we show support by taking on the offense as well. We need families and friends that will not take on the offense with us, but we need them to take us when we have been offended to the grace of God. We need people who will take us to Jesus because we are normally too upset to get to Jesus for ourselves. But if we are easily offended, then we stop or hinder the miraculous in our life, in our family and yes, even in our church. I believe the Lord is saying for us to be careful. If we are looking to be offended, then we will be offended.
- How do you know if you have forgiven people that have offended you? By being able to indiscriminately bless them. This is very hard to do, but we are to bless those who curse you. Luke 6:27-28, “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Jesus was deliberate in choosing not to be offended.
- Did Jesus have occasion to get offended during His life? Absolutely. But on the cross, He said, “Forgive them.” Jesus came not to hold offenses but to bring redemption. Jesus could have been discouraged and crushed, but He chose not to. He understood the importance of choosing not to be offended that brings forth the miraculous.
- Another example of someone not taking offense is Joseph (Genesis 50:15-21). He did not take offense although we may think he had the right to do so, but he did not, and it saved a nation.
- The Apostle Paul, 2 Timothy 4:16-18, “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
- I need to let the light of God flow through me and when I take on an offense I cut off the things God intended for others. God can’t use me when I take offense.
