LOVE IS NOT OFFENDED. The Bible says love is not easily provoked or offended: “It (love) is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].” 1 Corinthians 13:5 AMPC
We are now seeing the end-time signs Jesus warned about in Matthew 24. Yet, Jesus included another often over-looked warning, indicating that a spirit of offense would be everywhere in the latter days, “And many shall be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another… And because evil shall abound the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:10,12)
Do you have a right to be offended? Jesus in all the things done against Him, in every offense made against Him, more than we could ever suffer in a thousand lifetimes was never offended. If Jesus didn’t become offended for the mocking, false accusations and ultimately death, why should we be offended at lesser things? Are you dedicated to following Jesus? If someone offends you, then it simply doesn’t matter. We are to let it go.
Being offended is only concerned with self. There’s no way around this. It is only you that is offended and to your pride/ego that the offense was made. Being offended is a waste of time, it is selfish and solely focused on pride. Scripture is overwhelmingly about death to self, pride of life and the sins of the flesh. Jesus was never selfishly offended by things done against Him. Were you mocked and scourged for the sins of others? Did you take on another’s guilt and shame? Did you die on the cross for the sins of mankind? I’m pretty sure that was not you hanging innocently on the cross 2000 years ago.
What do you have to be offended about?Even the OT teaches not to hold grudges and to ignore insults against us in Proverbs 12:16 “A fool’s wrath is quickly and openly known, but a prudent man ignores an insult.” and Leviticus 19:18 “You shall not take revenge or bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” This instruction also includes taking on another’s offense. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Spreading your offense and taking on another’s offense is what ruins relationships and the unity in the church.
How dare you first, be offended; second, share your offense; and third, take on that shared offense. If someone is “sharing” their offense, stop them quickly in their tracks and plug your ears. If you have to, then yell, “Get thee behind me Satan!” Tell them their offense stinks and they need to go directly to the person they are offended by and work it out. If they refuse, they are not a friend. That relationship needs to be severed.
Bitterness spreads and it will infiltrate your heart and cause destruction. We are living in the last days of offense. Be warned! Check your ego at the door. Offense will hinder you from accomplishing your work for the Lord, if you let it. It is sin to allow other people to offend us and stop us from doing all of that God has called us to do. You must start viewing offense as sin. Mature Christians don’t allow others to offend us. If you are hurt and broken, take it to the cross.
Jesus bore your hurt and pain, let Him fully heal you. But remember, love does not take offense. To do so is to allow pride and the flesh to control us instead of the Spirit. You choose to be offended. We are accountable to God only for what we do and say. We aren’t accountable for what others do and say about us. Just because someone says they are offended doesn’t make them right, “The further a society moves from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” We must speak the truth and the truth will offend. #runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
