August 22
Offended by Everything
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ––2 Corinthians 4:4
As God’s men, we get our 77.43 years on this spinning blue marble, and then heaven. So the question becomes: How can I make the most of my near-80 years (or hopefully more) in a way that honors God and advances His Kingdom? While we all share the same mission (to know Christ and make Him known), God has given all of us a unique vision (the specific path He puts us on to help carry out His mission). For me it’s speaking and pastoring, but for you it may be building homes for the homeless or running a food pantry.
As I’ve cruised into my 60s, I can look back and see the wear and tear on this ‘body suit’ of mine. What’s harder to evaluate, however, are the inner scars and blind spots that I need to deal with. As I mentioned a few readings ago, the culture in which we live today is ashamed of little, but offended by much. Call out sin in a biblical (i.e., Christlike) manner? “You’re a bigot.” Reach out to a friend who is making bad choices? “You’re judgmental.” Talk about how Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)? “That’s narrowminded and offensive to other religions.”
Offense is everywhere. And like so many things in this fallen world, the enemy has attempted to co-opt offense in its truest, most biblical form. While God sees sin as offensive, the devil tries to convince us that pointing out that same sin is what is truly offensive. Do you see how subtle the deceiver is? That’s why God’s Kingdom is radical—it never changes; it is always advancing. And the world will never understand it because Satan has blinded the minds of the unbelievers. (See 2 Corinthians 4:4.)
So what is God’s man to do? First and foremost, we study His Word and use it to combat the lies of the devil, just as Jesus did in the wilderness. It’s no accident that Jesus wielded the Word of God against Satan, countering each of the three temptations with the words, “It is written.” (See Matthew 4:1-11.)
Jesus could have unleashed on the devil, cursed him, or screamed at him. But what He does, instead, is exactly what we need to do when confronted by worldly offense and deception: Speak His Word. We then ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden deception or faulty beliefs we’ve been hanging onto. If we surrender our minds to Him, He will renew us.
Man of God, what offends you? What really makes you angry? I encourage you to spend some time writing down the things you find most offensive. Don’t edit your list—write down the first things that come to mind. It might be “bad traffic,” “rude people,” or an “unfair boss.” Once you finish your list, I challenge you to pray through it. Is this thing you are offended by of any eternal significance? In other words, is it simply a personal bugaboo or is it something that truly grieves God’s heart?
Evaluated through an “eternal lens,” the Holy Spirit will reveal to you what is truly worth focusing on (actions and deeds that grieve the heart of God) vs more trivial things that are simply a nuisance. Then you will be able to have a clearer, more healthy perspective on those things that offend you. And more importantly, the Lord will reveal to you any deceptions you may have been laboring under, and give you clear direction on how to deal with them.
Father, help me be offended by the things that offend You, and to let go of those things that don’t.