These days, doesn’t it seem like everyone is offended over something? Just scroll social media for a few minutes and you’ll be sure to find it. People get offended so easily by what someone else says or even by what they don’t say. Even mere compliments that are taken the wrong way can be subject to offense or perhaps it’s a wound deep down that someone else caused, being held onto, letting bitterness grow. In Luke 17, we find Jesus telling us that offenses are unavoidable. But He didn’t say we have to accept the offense or live it. Holding onto offense is a choice – a comfortable choice. Jesus is calling us to get uncomfortable and release those offenses.
Luke 17:1 KJV “Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!”
In this verse, offense in the Greek is translated to “stumbling block.” When we allow offense to create a stumbling block in our lives, the enemy attacks immediately. The enemy’s agenda is destruction, John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and destroy.” And his strategy is division, Mathew 12:25 “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” Satan is trying to bring division for the ability to bring destruction to marriages, families, friendships and churches.
YOUR ABILITY TO RELEASE OFFENSES WILL DICTATE THE DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FUTURE.
In John chapter 12, we see the story of Jesus visiting Lazarus’s house. Lazarus’s sister, Mary, washes Jesus’s feet with perfume. Judas got upset with this action, saying that the money from the perfume could have been used to help the poor. Jesus’s response was that He would only be with them for a short time while they would always have the poor. In this moment, Judas opened a door to the enemy to inject betrayal in his heart. This moment of offense lead Judas on a path of betrayal.
“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another: even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” – Colossians 3:13 NKJV
Forgiveness is not a one-way street; it’s a two-way avenue. Walking in forgiveness is the ability to ask for forgiveness and releasing the hurt. Along with the ability to forgive, releasing that person. Asking for forgiveness and forgiving others is uncomfortable but we must get out of our comfort zone to walk with God.
“Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will (ever) see the Lord. See to it that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it may be defiled.” -Hebrews 12:14-15 AMP
Here the word is telling us to pursue peace with everyone! Harboring offense will lead to deep-rooted bitterness within you, which is a sin in God’s sight. Releasing offense will lead to a life of peace!
“Pay attention and always be on guard (looking out for one another)! If your brother sins and disregards God’s precepts, solemnly warn him: and if he repents and changes, forgive him.” -Luke 17:3 AMP
The Word tells us to be on the lookout of offense and address it quickly. Don’t hold on to it and let it become bitterness. The word forgiveness in Luke 17:3 means to “dismiss.” Permanently send it away, giving up the right to reach into the past and bring it back into the present situation. Forgiveness literally means to permanently release it!
In Mathew 18, Peter asks Jesus how many times to forgive someone. Jesus’s answer is to forgive 70 X 7 in one day if necessary! Forgive continually! But we also must realize this: you cannot afford to wait on someone else’s apology to forgive. Many times, it never happens, some may choose to die without apologizing for wronging you. Refuse to be held back from moving forward in your life by someone else’s wrong. Your peace should not be based on someone else’s sorry!
Forgiveness is not about keeping score; it’s about losing count. We will never be able to see who someone can truly be by looking at who they were or what they did to us. Releasing the offenses will allow us to see others as Christ does. Choose the uncomfortable path; choose to walk forward into greater things. Choose to forgive!
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