No Offense Intended

I'm in a unique position today.

Remember my post here concerning a re-definition of what success really is in Christ? Well I really had to look at that in my own life. Why? Well, because my beloved Yeshin had posted this concerning being offended, and the two perspectives in handling such a situation.

These two principles, the changing our perspective of success and the principle of offense, brought me to my knees, and the tears were many. How lost we are, even though we believe ourselves found.

And the sad part is that the leaders, self ascribed or not, never give those who follow them the understanding of how to deal with offenses rightfully. I have to be honest that I don't think many really understand themselves. I know people who claim favor with God, yet eschew the basic principles of our walk of faith. For instance let us look at what Christ said was the foundation of our faith:

"Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; And you shall love the Lord your God ^[i]out of and with your whole heart and out of andwith all your soul (your ^[j]life) and out of and with all your mind (with ^[k]your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. ^[l]This is the first and principal commandment. The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31 (Amplified)

And yet many claim that our faith is about "things we should do" and not about love. And yet a child could tell you that loving someone is something you do. All the "human interpretations" in the world readily miss the mark. Hence again the query "why do we use an earthly measurement" concerning the success or failure in our walk of faith?

We need to have power in our life, given by God, to meet successfully the challenges offered by all the worldly offenses we encounter. In face, another more descriptive way of viewing this, is to have a means to overcome the sin (offenses) in our lives. The ones we ourselves commit, and the ones committed against us, by the world and others we encounter.

"However, to return to reality, because life is difficult, there are times when life “just ain’t fair”. So there will be times when, despite that general principle, despite your righteous life, despite your faithful walk with God, situations turn on you. And it’s these exceptions to the rule that Peter is addressing in chapter 3, verses 11 through 17. He begins with a general summation of the condition." (Yeshin's article)

Or as Christ admonished offenses will come. It makes sense, in that we live in a world that stands against God. It is in this understanding that we can begin to prepare ourselves for the offenses that will come. But what had me so in need of prayer were the offenses I had buried deep within my soul. The pain that I tried so hard to hide and deal with in God's healing touch, and unfortunately without.

You may be thinking that I'm just a guy who is just making a point. What could I know of the harder side of life and the evils thereof? My mind instantly leaps to the word "plenty". I have dealt with:

• Being raped repeatedly by an uncle
• Beaten and left for dead in an irrigation ditch
• Two major drug overdoes
• Abandonment by my familial parents
• Several accidents that I should have died from
• A broken back and neck from those selfsame accidents
• Lied upon by my own family
• And the list goes on...

All this had lead to a life of drugs, alcohol, anger, suicidal thoughts, and a self-image of loathing. And this is the simple list. But like a friend of mine always says, it doesn't matter what happened to you, only what you do with it. Wisdom indeed. It was that declaration of faith that helped me find my way. So my testimony is highly personal, and based on a foundation of God who came into my life and saved me.

And it continues today. I had to let a friend go last week who did not live the truth. He was going around the community I live in and telling lies about me and others, mainly from the perceived hurts he was suffering. No ownership of his own behavior, but that no matter what happened to him was someone else's "offense" against him. He was truly someone who was lost, knew it, and yet basked in the dysfunction.

This is not who I am, nor who I want to be, as the greatest principle of faith, is to live a life of truth by being obedient to God. I made a specific decision that I could no longer walk with him. I needed to be right with God. And in doing so that plays right into success, for when you change your focus and basis for success, being a person who walks in truth is truly successful.

But believe me, it still hurts, this life of offenses. It could really be accurately called "a life of those who sin against you" and who retaliate often times with no reason whatsoever.

For Ourselves

We must learn not to take offense. This is not to say that we don't suffer them, but that we walk in God's plan for our lives. That plan is about love, to Him, and then each other. It covers a multitude of sins, as the Bible clearly states. God has the power to overcome the world, and desires for us to ask of Him of this power in our lives, that we ourselves overcome the world. That power comes through a life of obedience.

Obedient in our walk, in what we do, in what we say, in what we think, and ultimately in what we allow ourselves to feel. This is why I always say that a walk of faith is not for the weak at heart. If you are a real Christian, you will have already been offended, or reviled, through those who are in your world. I urge you to forgive them, love them, and pray for the power of forgiveness to enter their world and set them free.

These are the people we need to help, and pray for. These are the ones that are lost, by decision or circumstance, who need our help. I am not saying that you need to walk with in life, but to help them walk for themselves, and to leave the filth of the world behind them. Such is our gift of being offended. We have the power, through God, to bless them and thus help ourselves to rise above the pain of offenses.

Again this is the power and authority, given by God. We have to live life, heal wounds (ours and others), and seek the "higher ground" of a pure and holy love. Such is our calling, and such is our walk with God:

"Then to everyone he said, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him say ‘No’ to himself, take up his execution-stake daily and keep following me." Luke 9:23 (CJB)

And Christ also tells us:

"In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence)..." Ephesians 1:7-8 (Amplified)

For the Offenders

"To bring and give the knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins" Luke 1:77 (Amplified)

Remission means:  "Forgiveness; pardon." American Heritage Dictionary and redemption means: "the state of being made free from the power of evil, especially in the Christian religion" MacMillan Dictionary. So we have the power, through God, to give people forgiveness and pardon for the offense. This is a gift of life for them. It is one less burden to carry and be judged by. Yes, they must come to God and ask for the forgiveness to truly be free, but what we give to them, through this forgiveness, is an act of love that can set them free.

The only question is "are you willing to give it"?

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May the light of God's glory and presence fire the brilliance of your souls. You are greatly loved.