Offense....Ain't Nobody Got Time For That

I mentioned to my husband the other night that I thought a particular person might be mad at me. I had no real reason to believe this and as I finished what I was saying I almost immediately thought 'Joy, get ahold of yourself. You sound like a bitter 'ol bitty.' So I decided to do my own little study on offense in the bible and see what the Holy Spirit had to say about it all.

"An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars." (Proverbs 18:19 NLT)

-Offense is something we take on ourselves. We....WE put it on. So to put it bluntly: Offense is a selfish action with selfish motives and selfish gain.

“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector."(Matthew 18:15-17 NLT)

-Even in situations that we are justified (by mans standards) to be offended, the protocol states that we try to work things out in a peaceful manner.

"Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important." (Galatians 6:1-3 NLT)

-Restoration of an individual is God's priority. Don't be tempted to grab ahold of the bait that is offense. Y'all, people are broken and in dire need of God's restoring LOVE. And, friend, you and I are people. No one person is more important than another. I ask that God help me see that when given the chance to be offended or mad at another one of His children.

"Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs." (Proverbs 19:11 NLT)

-Lu-Huvvah this verse!

I hope this ministers to someone as much as it ministered to me. When we go to the Word to seek answers we will find them if we seek with all our hearts. I pray as I type these words that the Holy Spirit will keep our hearts tender towards Him so that no spirit of offense will ever keep us from hearing His sweet sweet voice.