Offenses are very real. They hurt us, they isolate us, and they can break us. The enemy uses it effectively to move us into the sense of right and wrong and feeling very justified. While we live on this earth as imperfect people, there will always be opportunities to get offended.
When an offense comes, it baits us in an unexpected moment. It pulls us down and wrestles with our emotions, and for a long while we can lose our equilibrium, or sense of direction. We can be completely confused and in a fog, and lose focus of which way is up. In this state, one can unleash their passions, frustrations, pain, and anger. This can make relationships to be broken or people can get deeply hurt. Added offense of hurtful words will linger in people’s memory for a long time. Now you have a relational breakdown that came from a momentary offense, but left a huge devastation behind that could take months or years to heal and restore.
But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded too many. Romans 5:15
As the above scripture tell us, the greatest offense committed by Adam & Eve led to the good news of the Gospel. God had an amazing solution for humanity’s offense. That is the gift of grace. The gift that doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t add up. You can’t make an equation out of it, or try to create a three point sermon on how to get more of it. It is the grace of God. His unmerited favor that He bestows on us weak, helpless, & needy people.
At times, we think, if I can analyze an offense long enough, or explain my position, or get others to see it my way, I can get over my offense. However, an offense is a trap that no humanly tool can undo. Only God’s supernatural work on the cross opens the door to forgiveness and healing. Sin cannot be justified by human means; it cannot be ignored, denied or pushed under the carpet. The precious blood of the lamb atoned for our sins. The blood of the lamb cleansed, purified, and covered our sin with love.
Scripture instructs us that we should go to the person who has offended us and follow Matthew 18:15 to help restore the relationship. This is an important part of us living as people of God in peace, harmony, and unity with one another. However, there is no scriptural basis for sharing an offense with others. Sharing an offense with others causes offense in other people’s hearts. It also affects the person that we are offended by negatively. The Bible does not give us permission to perpetuate an offense!!
that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. Phil 1:10
It is God’s desire for us to be without offense, so we can remain sincere and pure. Praise God for His grace and His forgiveness. That’s His solution to living a life with excellence and sincerity. Where would we be without it? While in our inner being we cry out for justice, we find over and over again, that true justice is found in forgiveness not in revenge. Freedom can only come when we let go of an offense. In the work of the cross, we see the sacrifice of Jesus being more powerful, potent, and pure than any work of the flesh to fix the pain.
Have you been carrying an offense that you need to be freed from? Are you ready to trust your savior with what happened and not to try to take the matters in your own hands? As you trust Him, He can make something good even out of a bad and hurtful situation. Give it to Him. You won’t regret it, but if you don’t, you will regret it for all the lost time and opportunity that you could have been freed from the pain of the offense.