April 29th, 2022
by Pastor Bruce Rhodes
by Pastor Bruce Rhodes
"Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" - Matthew 18:7 NKJV
"Woe to the world because of snares! For there must be snares, but woe to the person who sets the snare!" Matthew 18:7 CJB
Offense will come in every relationship. What you do when offense comes will reveal your level of maturity. If you are only a believer in Jesus, when offense comes you will likely take it and become offended. If you are a growing disciple of Jesus, when offense comes you will likely refuse to be offended and be able to quickly forgive.
An offense can be anything that we say or do toward someone else that is not in line with the word of God. We have all been on the receiving end of offense at one time or another. Taking offense and being hurt by others is just one of those ordinary life challenges that everyone faces because people are not perfect.
When we hear someone say, "you just don't know what they did to me..." or "I just can't get over how badly they hurt me..." you know that offense is working overtime. Offense is designed to draw you into the realm of your "feelings". You can even take offense for someone else when you feel sorry for them and how they were mistreated or abused.
The devil uses offense to lure you into feeling sorry for yourself or someone else so that he can plant a root of bitterness inside of you. Once a root of bitterness is planted and begins to grow the only thing that can cut you free is the sharp, two-edged sword of the word of God.
Ask yourself this...
Have I heard myself say, "I just can't get over how badly they hurt me..."? (This is a root of bitterness)
Do I begin feeling sorry for others when I hear how they have been hurt? (This is taking offense for someone else)
If I am offended am I willing to let the offense go, repent, forgive and walk free?
"Woe to the world because of snares! For there must be snares, but woe to the person who sets the snare!" Matthew 18:7 CJB
Offense will come in every relationship. What you do when offense comes will reveal your level of maturity. If you are only a believer in Jesus, when offense comes you will likely take it and become offended. If you are a growing disciple of Jesus, when offense comes you will likely refuse to be offended and be able to quickly forgive.
An offense can be anything that we say or do toward someone else that is not in line with the word of God. We have all been on the receiving end of offense at one time or another. Taking offense and being hurt by others is just one of those ordinary life challenges that everyone faces because people are not perfect.
When we hear someone say, "you just don't know what they did to me..." or "I just can't get over how badly they hurt me..." you know that offense is working overtime. Offense is designed to draw you into the realm of your "feelings". You can even take offense for someone else when you feel sorry for them and how they were mistreated or abused.
The devil uses offense to lure you into feeling sorry for yourself or someone else so that he can plant a root of bitterness inside of you. Once a root of bitterness is planted and begins to grow the only thing that can cut you free is the sharp, two-edged sword of the word of God.
Ask yourself this...
Have I heard myself say, "I just can't get over how badly they hurt me..."? (This is a root of bitterness)
Do I begin feeling sorry for others when I hear how they have been hurt? (This is taking offense for someone else)
If I am offended am I willing to let the offense go, repent, forgive and walk free?
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