A Gotchme Gotcha

Have you ever been offended?  The kind of offense that makes you shout, either in your head or out your mouth: "that's it, color me done" and you act on what your anger dictates?  Uh oh that would be a  "Gotchme gotcha".  Who can escape that question? Isn't it amazing how the devil uses our offenses and our "offendedness" to divide and conquer marriages, relationships, the court room, the work place, churches and even entire nations!

We've all witnessed good people using the "you've got 7 offenses before I start swinging" method of forgiveness. A nice try at forgiveness of offenses before "offendedness" sets in. God's Word  reminds us to forgive 70 times 7.....(forgive 490 times) but even that could occur in less than a week these days.  We are living in highly offensive times.  We are not careful enough about the things we say or do and more importantly, we get offended way too easily. We get sideways and go off high and to the right because people do not meet our expectations. 

If you are holding a baby and his little arm swats you in the face, would you take offense to that? Of course not! We know the little guy didn’t intend to hurt us. We respond with “awwww” or laughter or something to that effect. But if it is a friend, a family member or a brother or sister in the church who offends us with a little swat of his words or actions, we are undone. We expect more from them! We become angry and we want to defend ourselves, fight back or leave forever.  Ian Percy said: " “We judge others by their behavior. We judge ourselves by our intentions.”

Jesus said NO! He said that even if someone despitefully uses us, that means on purpose, that we are to respond in love! We as human beings are troubled and sinful. We are not perfect and we should never expect others to be, no matter what their positions are in this life. God is perfect and He is the one from whom our expectations should come — not man.

A pearl to string: Are we living the Christian life or are we mouthing the words? Honestly I can not do this on my own.  If I am offended I am full of emotion. If I am full of emotion I am not nice. I am the classic snapper... off with their heads!  Oh boy! Swallow hard... want to know what Jesus says: "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:7) Jesus is teaching about causing little children to sin. Isn't that what we adults do... teach our children by our bad behavior?  That alone is enough reason for me to need a Savior.  I thank God for Jesus. I thank God I can give my offenses to Jesus and allow Him to wash over me and heal me.

 

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. (Psalms 62:5)

Amen,

     Lyndi