Greetings! I am so glad you are taking the time to read what the Lord has placed on my heart for you today. I am amazed continually with the relevance of His Word for our every day lives! We do serve an awesome God! Eric

As I have been preparing to write this blog post, I have discovered that the word ‘offense’ has many meanings. One of the definitions in the Merriam Webster Dictionary is: an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity. Merriam Webster also adds: offense implies displeased or hurt feelings as the result of a slight or insult.

The Collins English Dictionary includes these meanings: “offending” - the act of breaking a law; sin, or crime; ‘transgression’- the act of creating resentment, hurt feelings, and displeasure. Then there is the condition of being “offended,”- especially of feeling hurt, resentful, or angry. A synonym note in Collins reads, “resentment adds implications of indignation, or brooding over an injury, and ill will toward the offender [a resentment cherished for days]; and the word “pique” which suggests a passing feeling of ruffled pride, usually over a trifle.”

I believe these definitions and synonyms will help us have insight into understanding the word “offense” as we also look at the Biblical definitions. [Note: offense and offence is definitively the same word. The spelling in most of the Old Testament era writings used the “c” and the New Testament era used the ‘s’.]

As always, the Word of God is our absolute authority. We will begin with Jesus’ words in John 16:1 (KJV), “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.” ‘Offended’ is translated from the Greek word skandalizo, meaning: be displeased, become indignant, be offended ; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause one to judge unfavourably or unjustly of another. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).

Jesus was telling His followers to be careful to not take offense because of the persecution and hatred the world would pour out on them because they were His followers. (John 15:19-25). Jesus informed His followers (including us) that we should not be offended and need to know lhat we will receive the same treatment He received!

Luke 17:1 (KJV), “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!" The word, ‘offence’ or skandalon in the Greek, is a trap, snare, any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall (a stumbling block, occasion of stumbling). In this verse the meaning of ‘offence’ is to cast a stumbling block before one, (to cause persons to be drawn away from the true doctrine into error and sin).

Today, it appears that people are taking offense about something at every turn. No issue is off the table or too small. Offenses are taken concerning color, gender, race, politics, inclusion, or exclusion…the list is never ending. Policemen are hindered from doing their job, and schools and sports teams have had to change their mascots. After 127 years, a pancake product has had to have it’s name changed because of an offense. (interestingly the family of the person portrayed on the packaging was not offended and were not happy about the portrait and name being replaced.) Historic statues have been torn down. History is even being rewritten so as not to “offend.” It has gotten quite bizzare.

I believe many of these “offenses” are nothing less than the planting of false narratives by people who are being led by the devil to cause and drive division , cause strife, and to strip the family, the church, and the nation of all unity. “Every house divided against itself shall not stand.” (Matt:12:2).

As always, the solution to all of life’s needs and turmoil can be found in the truth and power of God’s Word.

The first necessity is accepting God’s plan of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. (John 3:16).

However, being ‘born again’ or becoming a Christian is only the first step. Secondly, we must allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us into His truth. We must come to know what the will of God is, so that we will know and understand how God desires for us to live. John 14:6,15-17 and 26, “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.... 15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ... 26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.“ Jesus said, "“I am the way” (the only path to God), the “truth” (candour of mind which is free from pretense, simulation, false-sense, and deceit), and the “life” (life in the absolute sense, as God has it.) “He said He would send the Helper, the One who would lead us into a deeper knowledge of gospel truth and give us the divine strength we need to undergo trials and persecutions in behalf of the divine Kingdom” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).

Many years ago, a popular band called the “Beatles” sang, “All We need is Love” written by John Lennon. Actually, if the love they were singing about had been the love of God, which is poured out in our hearts by His Holy Spirit, they would have been right! Romans 5:5b (KJV), “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” ‘Love,’ agape in this verse means: undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable good will that always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he does. It is self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return. ‘Agape’ is the Greek word used in the Scripture when referencing God’s love!

God’s love is unconditional and giving as defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (Amplified Bible), “Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. 8Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].” This portion of Scripture very aptly defines God’s love. For today, we will focus on verses 5 and 7 because these verses give us a good description of how love (God’s love) responds to those who have the potential to hurt or offend us by what they ‘do’ or ’say’. If we would read verse 5 in the New International Version translation, we would read that “love does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered and it keeps no record of a suffered wrong!”

Then we see in verse 7 in the Amplified version that it reads: “believes all things (looking for the best in each one). Do you do that? When people hurt you, do you give them the benefit of the doubt? This aspect of love (God’s love) is difficult because it is not emotion driven. It is a decision or a choice made! You see, we are to be led by the Spirit of God - not our emotions. We will always experience emotions. However, we are not to allow them to control us or be the reason for the choices we make.

Walking in love requires walking in forgiveness. Please, get this: If we take no offense, there is nothing to forgive!

God’s desire for us concerning our relationships is that we deny ourselves and see the other person as more important than ourselves. (1 Corinthians 10:24, NASB20).

I found Philippians 2:3 and 4 (NASB20) very interesting, 3 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” In verse 3 ‘empty conceit’ is translated from the Greek word, kenodoxia and means: groundless self-esteem or empty pride, a vain opinion. Then the phrase ‘with humility’ (tapeinophrosyne) means a deep sense of one’s littleness. (Remember, apart from Him we can do nothing, but with Him, we are a child of the King and can do all things. (John 15:5 and Philippians 4:13)

The wonderful news is that we do not have to try and do the impossible in our own strength, ability, or love. It is the love of God in us which is not self -seeking and is willing to take no offense to a suffered wrong. We can choose to allow the power of the Holy Spirit in us to be in control.

Proverbs 19:11 (NASB20), “A person's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory (virtue) to overlook an offense.”

Proverbs 17:9 (NLT), “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.”

1 Peter 4:8 (NLT) reads, “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” This scripture does not mean to pretend the sin is nonexistent. “Covers” kalypto in the Greek means to pardon them or not to regard them.

Proverbs 10:12 (NASB20), “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all offenses.” Ellicott’s Commentary states, “to cover in the Hebrew means: to forgive, thus refusing to take offence to yourself.”

Scripture teaches that we are to forgive as we are forgiven. Your and my sins hung Jesus to a cruel cross and yet, He cried our, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Jesus forgave us for our sin and He requires us to forgive other’s, even to the point of loving our enemies. (Luke 6: 27 and 28 (NKJV).

We read in 1 Peter 2:23 that Jesus made an amazing choice. When He was unjustly insulted and reviled, He made a choice to not retaliate but rather to submit Himself to God, Who judges fairly.

Ephesians 5:1 and 2 (NKJV), “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

In life, the decision to choose love and forgiveness is ours! We are to imitate Jesus and make that quality decision, following God’s example.

Remember, we must also choose to not give the devil a place in the life of our personal family, our church, or the nation by deceiving us into choosing to be a vessel of division.

Is it always easy to choose to love and forgive? No! However, we must remember that love and forgiveness are choices and we have been given the help of the Holy Spirit, Who enables us to make the best choice.

I will end with this Scripture, Colossians 3:14, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures are from the New King James Version.

KJV King James Version

NIV New International Version

NASB20 New American Standard Bible 2020

NLT - New Living Translation