Luke 17:1 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come…”
One of the reasons some Christians are unable to function properly in their calling or service to God is because of the wounds and hurts that offenses have caused in their lives. They are handicapped and hindered from fulfilling their full potential because they carry past offenses.
The possibilities for offense are endless. No matter what the scenario is, we can divide all offended people into two major categories:
Those who have been treated unjustly or felt unsupported.
Those who believe they have been treated unjustly or were unsupported.
People in the second group believe with all their hearts that they have been wronged. Often their conclusions are drawn from inaccurate information. Or their information is accurate, but their conclusion is distorted. Either way, they hurt. Their understanding is darkened. They judge by assumption, appearance, and hearsay.
Jesus made it very clear that it is impossible to live in this world and not have the opportunity to become offended. One way the enemy keeps a person in an offended state is to keep the offense hidden and cloaked with pride and insecurity.
Pride and insecurity will keep you from admitting your true condition. They keep you from dealing with the truth. They distort your vision. You never change when you think everything is fine. Your heart becomes hardened and your eyes become dim to understanding. You will begin to view yourself as a victim. Your attitude becomes:
“I was mistreated and misjudged; therefore I am justified in my behaviour.”
Because you believe you are innocent and falsely accused, you hold back forgiveness. Now, although your true heart condition is hidden from you, it is not hidden from God.
Hebrews 3:13 states that hearts are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin! If we do not deal with an offense, it will produce more fruit of sin, such as bitterness, anger, and resentment.
Our ability to see correctly is a key to being freed from deception and from offenses. The Apostle Paul prayed daily the following prayer in Ephesians 1:16-19:
“Give me Lord the spirit of wisdom and revelation that the eyes of my understanding will be enlightened that I may know what is the hope of my calling, the riches of my inheritance and the exceeding greatness of your power…”
It is my prayer that God's Word will enlighten the eyes of your understanding so that you will see your true heart condition and become free from offense, if any, in your life.
Repent by simply turning to God. Give that offense over to God. Don’t blame any other person. Don’t hold it against anyone else. Forgive them. Move on and allow God to lift that heaviness from you and break its power over your life!