Offended?

Feeling offended is absolutely horrible.  Believe me.  I know.  I’m pretty sure you know too.  What is the Bible way to handle being offended?  

Here’s where I go to get help…

Read 1 Corinthians 13.  It’s the love chapter.  We need a heavy dose of God’s love

Read Psalm 51.  Identify with remorseful David who prays in verse 10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Remind yourself of verse 17 which says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Read Matthew 5.  Linger at verses 8-9 which says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”  Matthew 5:44-45a says, “But I tell you:  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…”  Verse 48 says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  That is certainly a tall order! How can we be perfect when we feel so messed up inside?  Only Jesus can help you and me!

Read 1 Peter 2:21-25.  Verse 23 says, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”  I see three ways of responding to offense here.

1-Don’t retaliate

2-Make no threats.

3-Entrust yourself to God, the Judge

Dearest Lord Jesus,

I know our lives are filled with much pain.  Please help us and heal us from within.  Remove any urge to get even somehow.  Lord, fight for Your people.  See our hearts.  Too many times we just lack love.  You are love and we are so not like You many times.  Help us.  Fill us with Your love even now.  I can’t fathom the kind of love You showed to people while You were suffering unjustly.  Yet we are sinful people and we suffer.  We are not perfect and yet we expect to be treated better than You were treated?  Lord, forgive us.  You went through the ultimate hurt.  You, the Son of God went through the worst offense ever of being mocked, mistreated, crucified…all for imperfect, loveless people.  Lord, show us how to love like you when we are really hurting.  This is most difficult.  It goes against our very nature.  Show us how to live.  Show us how to talk, how to function without making ourselves sick, how to be a good witness, how to hold our tongue, how to convey kindness…show us Lord.  Show us Lord how to live surrendered to You.  Show us how to trust You when we can’t see any hope.  We rely on the comforting power of the Holy Spirit.  If You don’t touch us, we will fail.  If You don’t empower us to love properly, we will fall into sin.  God protect us from making sinful choices.  Lord, protect us from the power of the enemy.  The Devil is trying so hard to mess with our spiritual lives.  But we declare our need for You Jesus.  Heal our broken lives, our broken hearts, our broken dreams, our troubled minds.  They are many.  But God Your power and love are always greater.  We cling to You.  We have no one else.  Please somehow through the precious anointing of the Holy Spirit release healing, deliverance, comfort, guidance and hope even now.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.