Did you know that the enemy wants to keep us offended?

I am going to begin by sharing some scriptures.

Luke 17:1 "...It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!"

Psalm 55:12-14 "...It is not an enemy who taunts me---I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly

insult me----I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you---my equal, my companion and close friend. What

good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God." NLT

Matthew 24:10-12"....And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of

many will grow cold."

Proverbs 18:19 .."A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a

castle. "

This is only a few that I have been considering. You know offense can be called a stumbling block. Anything

that becomes a hindrance or a cause for people to fall away from their faith in Jesus Christ.

We often have expectations that are not met. When we build others up to such a high place and they fall from that reality they have hence become an offense. Not always are they aware of this. We all are human fallible flesh and we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. When we have expectations of others and they do not meet those and in some way fail our expectations,we become offended. I am reading the Bait of Satan by John Bevere. I am actually doing a bible study through my local church on this subject of offense. It is an amazing study. I think a lot of the times people who are closest to us we tend to place the highest expectations and we often realize they could not possibly keep up this idea. In Proverbs 11:2 ..." When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom." You know a lot of times we pretend we aren't offended in order to keep the peace and we do not want to seem so petty. We push it down to our toes and pretend it is not there. We go to great lengths to wear masks and play the charade game, pretending we are fine when actually we are stewing in offense. Why do we tend to make this such a complex thing? If we were only to come to terms with the offense, pray about it and talk it over, we could get past it faster and prevent ourselves and others from more harm. We should realize we all are going to say and do things that others dislike and do not agree with. We are all different and we all have our own way of thinking, doing, and being. Realizing we have hurt or offended others is necessary. We should put away pride and be honest with ourselves and others. It is said that pride is one of the deadliest vices of man. Pride makes others look down and judge others and this is wrong. As long as we are looking down on others it is impossible to look up and see the truth of God's word. I love the analogy of gold being purified through fire. All of the impurities are brought to the top and removed . We are like this purifying process in the hands of God. He removes and purifies us of impurities if we allow him . When we are in the heat of trials and storms, impurities surface. It is more difficult to be hospitable when we are going through difficulties. You know so many of us build strong towering walls around our hearts as a result of offenses. We falsely believe we will keep pain, hurt, and more heartache out. This is not true at all. We actually become more closed off to others, to love, and life itself. We become hard and distant, we grow weary and impatient with not only others but ourselves. Holding onto offense and witholding forgiveness brings a repetitive cycle of pain . I understand that pain, suffering, deep scars, and hurt are inevitable. We live in a fallen world. But we must be patient with others as well with ourselves and allow God to mold us and make us into His masterpiece. He is the potter and we are the clay. We are His masterpiece in the making. I am so grateful for Him. During this study I have realized I have been hypocritical. Many times I have not even been aware of it. It is an ongoing battle. I am in no way perfect because I am fallible flesh and human. I am saved by the grace of Jesus Christ and born again, hallelujah. I am an ongoing work in progress praise Jesus! If we don't forgive others and keep holding offenses against those who have hurt us, either intentional or not,we are guilty! We must forgive! It is not easy I know, but with God all things are possible. If we do not forgive others He will not forgive us! Go read it in Matthew 6:15 "..But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. " ESV

I am definitely aware that I am much in need of God's grace and forgiveness. We all need Him. Praise God for His son Jesus who died for us and forgives our sins on Calvary! We just need to accept this greatest gift of love ever given! Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:10 ..."For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. " ESV