A Great Reminder About Offense

This morning, I enjoyed listening to a pastor on the subject of offense and unforgiveness. Both are obstacles that we face in our everyday lives, and sometimes we are even oblivious to our own spiritual condition as we rush through our daily routines without a thought of the things that will “pop” into our minds and hearts, momentarily vexing our spirits and influencing our personalities, attitudes, and our walk as Christians. This pastor’s interview was a great reminder of the need of self-examination and a careful walk in this world.

An awareness and constant examination of our mental and spiritual health is necessary to live free and uninhibited by the traps and temptations that Satan has set to ensnare us. I Peter 5:8 warns us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Satan will use offense to isolate the believer…either from God, from other believers, or both…so that he can dominate your thought life by taking the focus off of God, and placing the focus on your own hurt and wrong. Offense creates resentment and unforgiveness that prevents you from enjoying life in your own blessings and walking in the growth and abundance that God has for you.

Offenses may or may not be founded. Someone may so something intentional to bring hurt to you. Offense may also come through a wrong that the offender is unaware of due to their self-righteousness or lack of knowledge or understanding…in other words, they cannot see their wrong. An offense may be one that you have created yourself, based on misunderstanding or an emotional hurt that is felt when your own thoughts are internalized and reviewed over and over, building an offense that is totally unfounded. And finally, an offense may actually be a painful truth that has been revealed, but that you do not want to accept. The pain of this realization may cause resentment towards the person that caused you to see your own faults.

The wounds and self-pity that are created by offense will scar the soul, and the memories of pain will drive a wedge of separation between relationships. Offense steals our joy. It isolates and yields us more vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. And, God’s Word tells us that if we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven. It is a vicious, destructive cycle that renders one spiritually abandoned.

We must examine our hearts, being honest with ourselves and having a complete desire to live free and uninhibited from the snares of offense that entangle us in the sin of unforgiveness. We must look to God with a singleness of heart and allow His love to minister to our hurt and release us from the bondage and isolation of offense, yielding the offense and the offender to Him in prayer. It may be a process that takes days, or months, even years…it may take a diligent “chipping away” at the mountain of offense that has become an obstacle to your internal peace and freedom. Spiritual health and freedom from offense has to be a heart’s desire and pursued with the faith that God is your Healer.

The greatest way to overcome the obstacle of offense in your life is to realize you, yourself have offended. You have sinned against God, yet sought and received forgiveness to live in the freedom of life in Jesus Christ. God made the first step towards repairing the breach that was created by our offense and sin that separated us from Him. His sacrifice made a way for release, restoration, and relationship through His Son, Jesus Christ. Realize that if you feel that you cannot forgive…then you may have forgotten that you were forgiven.

Sometimes, we may have to be the “bigger” one, where offense is concerned, and make the decision to excuse, forgive, and forget the offense. Our relationship with God is much more important than constantly “licking the wounds” created by offense. We must let go and allow God to heal and restore us to the life that He intended for us…a life that is unhindered, moving forward in His plans and purposes.

Offense steals. God heals.

Be blessed in Jesus’ Name,

Angie