Offense, Compliments of Joyce

I love the Bible, but I also love preachers who can make it come alive! Joyce Meyer is one of those people, in my opinion. I've been watching her series on "Offense", and what an eye opener it has been. I will both quote and paraphrase and add to what she said, but you will be able to tell Joyce's words from mine. She is phenomenal! Let's get right to it...

"Offense, from the Greek word, scandalon, which refers to entrapment, in other words, the bait of Satan". What a mouthful there, but Joyce's point is that offense is a trap! If Satan can get you offended, and get you to stay offended, that offense turns into anger, unforgiveness, resentment...it affects your prayer life and your worship...you begin to gossip, tell others about who offended you...you become a talebearer in the Body of Christ..you are beginning to spread strife...now everyone hates this person and it is all your fault." Wow. I've actually seen this in living color. It's no good!!

The Lord considers it an abomination when someone sows seeds of discord among others. An abomination! That's huge! Why would the Lord think that is so awful? Because He wants us in unity! He wants us to be one with the Spirit, like Jesus is with His Father. We can't do that if we're fighting and divided. Satan just loves that kind of mess. Especially if he can pit Christian against Christian and in church too! Too many people think that just because you're in a church you can't get offended like out in the world. Those kinds of unrealistic expectations are what cause the big stink in the first place. (some of these words are mine)

Offense consumes your thinking. It becomes "me-centered" and is a distraction from God's leading. It hinders what God is trying to do in your life. Offense can stop you from experiencing miracles, forgiveness, and blessings. Oh, man! Don't do that, guys!!

A lot of times we're offended because we're relying too much on what our feelings are saying instead of the truth of the matter. A lot of times we assume someone is thinking something of us and it has no basis of truth at all! Sometimes a person blatantly offends us and there's no question of what they mean. Still, we are to approach it in a godly way. Take the high road. Think the best of that person. Humble yourself. Be kind to them anyway. Get over it!! Why? Because that's the kind of life GOd wants for you. It is what you are called to do.

Joyce talks about the need to be right. Well, sometimes we do get offended when we think we're right and someone else is wrong about something. I love her thinking on this one. Remember, we're supposed to be doing everything we can to preserve the unity of the Spirit. We're to be pursuing peace, even wearing the shoes of peace. The peace that God left us and gives us. Okay...well, it's impossible to live in peace if you don't know anything about humility!

"There are times when you will have to just drop something that you'd like to make a big issue out of. Times that you will have to NOT push to prove that you're right, even though you're sure you are. You need to just say "it's not that big of a deal- I don't really have to look right".
Real humility says 'I think I'm right, but I could be wrong.' " Love is humble. It doesn't need to be right. Joyce went so far as to say she believes marriages could be saved and divorces could be stopped with that one simple statement- "I think I'm right, but I could be wrong". Which leads to this...

Sometimes we're more concerned with what people are doing to us than what they are doing to themselves. If we're really walking in love, we should be more worried about what they're doing to themselves. We should feel sorry for them, not get angry. Why? Because they just sowed a seed that they will someday have to reap! They are insensitive, thoughtless, they have no honor, no respect. They are miserable and unhappy. And you? You can keep your joy because you have the Spirit of God in you. It's clear to me who can take the high road after all.

There are going to be people who say and do things that hurt, whether they mean to or not. It's our job to give that over to God and let him handle it. If we try to handle it, we can fall right into the enemy's hands. God is our vindicator, and when he vindicates us, it is sweet! (Joyce's words) So no matter how we feel about something or someone, we can choose how we behave about it. She said that about 4 times, so it must be pretty valid!

Joyce gave some good tips about how to handle feeling offended.

First off...PRAY! Create a positive atmosphere, focus on good things, don't fixate on what the person said or did. Make a decision to keep your peace. Stay in the Word of God. Believe the best of others and LET IT GO! If someone offended you and you need to talk to them about it, do it in a godly way and give them the benefit of the doubt. Your efforts to make peace will be rewarded by God. Guaranteed.

One last thing she said... All of your unhappiness is not somebody else's fault. All of your happiness is not somebody else's responsibility! There is power in agreement, there is God's anointing in unity. Make the decision to not be offended and you will be a champion for Christ!

Well, I don't know about you, but I have had issues with offense, and I have to work on it sometimes. I now realize that most times it is just fear-based or a reaction to however I feel that day. I certainly don't want it to affect my relationship with God, so it is a part of my flesh that needs to be killed and buried! As Joyce says,"Once that part of your flesh is dead, you will be at peace." The only way it can die is if I stop feeding it. In fact, the only way to stop any behavior is to stop feeding it.

(Joyce speaking) "We look at ourselves through rose-colored glasses but we look at everyone else with a magnifying glass. If we want to get after anybody with a magnifying glass, it ought to be ourselves. If YOU will face the truth about YOU, YOU can work with the Holy Spirit, and He can change you. But YOU cannot change other people no matter what you know is wrong with them, and even if you're right, YOU cannot change them because people will only change if they see and face the truth, and GOD is better at that than you are."

I will close with that, my friends. Be happy, and live un-offended!