07 Sep Is It Impossible to Live Unoffended?

“Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” Luke 17:1 NKJV

Did you catch that? It’s impossible–as long as people live on planet Earth–for offenses not to come. And because you and I live around people, we have a 100% chance of offending someone at some time in our life as well as being offended by someone. I’ve done it; you’ve done it—likely more than once. But if it’s been a while since you’ve been offended, let me remind you that it’s an ugly and very dangerous place to stay because it’s a trap that Satan sets. That’s why Jesus speaks so vehemently about it and why we must make every effort to be on to Satan and resolve to live unoffended.

Offense means “an annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one’s standards or principles” (Oxford). The Greek word used for offense in the Scriptures is skandalon and it means a trap, a snare, a stumbling block; an occasion to fall (Strong’s).

And man, does Satan ever love to see us fall! In fact, he’s a master trap-setter, and he loves to bait the trap with what will particularly offend our senses and emotions. Think about it—we become offended by big things, and by the stupidest little things, that disagree with what we believe or don’t believe about politics (duh) and religion; the things we wear, the food we eat, the causes we stand for, the new pastor, the old pastor, the way we’re treated, someone left us out, didn’t notice us, disappointed us, didn’t meet our expectations… you name it. It’s quite nauseating.

Listen—we’re going to get offended, but we don’t have to take the offense and thereby become offended and live that way. We’re Jesus-people, and the goal is to live like Jesus—who lived unoffended.

Think about that this week… Are you living unoffended?

I love y’all!
xo-P❤️