Offense Is Poisonous!
[et_pb_section bb_built="1"][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.11"]We're going along merrily on our way and WHAM, out of the blue comes a remark made toward us, or an action taken against us. What will our response be? The choice is ours - to take offense or not take offense. We need to make the choice immediately. As a matter of fact - we must "be at the ready" before any offense is hurled at us.Offense is poisonous! We pay a high price to keep it locked up within ourselves. So we must learn to spit it out the moment it rears it's ugly head and tries to take over our life. An offense will fester just like an ugly sore than continues to open, redden and get infected. Offense will infect our life with anger, bitterness, un-forgiveness, sickness, and strife and rob us of so many good things God has for us.Choose to forgive and forget. The devil knows if we don't forgive and forget then he can bring that offense back up to surface and use it as a tool against us time and time again. Choose life. Choose blessings. Choose to love unconditionally.This is the God kind of love - agape' love. Jesus loved us with unconditional, agape' love. The Bible says that Jesus died for us - right in the middle of our sinning. God chooses to forget our sins. He doesn't shove them right back in our faces when we deserve it. God looks past our sins, our "offending" Him and loves us.We must realize that the devil uses offense as bait to catch us off guard. People are just like you and me. They go through hurts and pains, good days and bad days. They take the bait of the devil, just like you and I do from time to time. That's how our days go from good to bad to worse. The devil isn't happy with just working with one person at a time, he wants to share and not in a nice way, by the way!We need to remember that we aren't striving against people but the demonic forces oppressing them. Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.When we allow ourselves to get offended, it's just like stepping into trap. Offense is a snare and we cannot get out until we forgive and release the person.We don't have to be caught off guard anymore. When we fill our self with the Word of God daily and let the unconditional, agape' love of God flow through us then no weapon formed against us will prosper, the offense will not get through.Now, the choice is always easy - but it is the right thing to do. If we find that we have stuffed offense deep within our heart, then we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us.The Bible says that with God nothing is impossible. And when the Holy Spirit lives in us, then we have His power in us. We have the armor of God to wear, and it is powerful, it will destroy strongholds!It's our choice - the ball is in our court - choose life, choose not to take offense at anyone or anything. The moment offense comes towards us we must take action and throw it right back at the devil.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]