Don’t get Offended! by Elaine Davenport (Tuesday, September 18, 2007)
17 Sep 2007 Leave a Comment
in 1 Corinthians 10: 2, 1 Corinthians 11: 28, Don't get offended!, God loves me, I'm So Offended, Luke 17: 1, Offense, prideful, Proverbs 18: 19, self examination, self protecting, THe bible is a good counseling guidebook, Top Ten record
One of largest stumbling blocks to healing is offense whether you go to church or not. Offense is really a sign of pride; it’s a sin. We need to talk about it and learn to recognize it and let it roll off of our backs. It is a fact that someone is going to offend you…if you let them. You control it. You’ve got to change your thinking. When the tape plays that says: “I wonder what she meant by that?” You’ve got to say: “I don’t care!” “All I know is that God loves me!”
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city. Proverbs 18: 19
Woe unto the world because of offenses Luke 17: 1
Give none offense 1 Corinthians 10: 2
Most people are sensitive and self protecting. We have to be mindful of that. Even in the body of Christ where we study and understand how Satan would like to distract us; we fall victim to his tactics sometimes. I’ve met people who have switched churches a lot and sometimes it’s the result of offense. I even recall being at a church years ago where one of the mothers in the church insulted me. Or at least that’s what I thought at the time. I didn’t leave the church, but I stayed away from her and when I did see her, I forced a smile and said hello while I thought: “I’m staying away from you Tiger.” However, I’ve come a long ways since then.
I had a good friend years ago who said: “Do you think I should marry Frank?” (I changed his name) I decided to tell the truth. “Of course not.”
I proceeded to give her the long list as to why not. I thought that I could be honest; that wasn’t smart thinking. My friend seemed to agree with me at the time; (she knew he was bad news but she was flattered by the attention). I later found out that was the day the friendship died. They married and had a wonderful life filled with ups and downs and it ended in divorce years later. I learned a lesson and that is to remain neutral when asked for my opinion unless it’s my children. That worked for a while. Actually, we’re in touch now but we both lead vastly different lifestyles. She’s a very good person and I think highly of her.
THEN I FOUND OUT THE TRUTH
There is no better Counseling Guidebook than the B-I-B-L-E. The bible makes a great referee and prayer is always a good solution as well. Just like a car has a manual and a game has a rulebook; the bible is a good guide for us to live by.
SELF EXAMINATION
Sometimes it is hard to take a close look at ourselves and to be truthful about it. However, it helps us all to examine ourselves. That is self help. The bible endorses this action.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1 Corinthians 11: 28
PART TWO TOMORROW
That is what we must do before we take communion. Examine ourselves.
