DON’T BE EASILY OFFENDED

Main text: Proverbs 19:11 – A man’s wisdom gives him patience, it is to his glory to overlook an offence. 

Colossians 3:13 – Forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye.


Situations occur that would or may offend us every day. But it is entirely up to us to decide whether or not to be offended. In Mark 7:27, Jesus told a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit that it is not right for him to give the children’s bread to dogs”. The woman had all the opportunity to be offended for Jesus called his people “dogs”.

She could have said how would he call me a dog, just because I am asking him for help? Is this how he talks to people? Does he have respect? But no! She applied wisdom and inhibited a remarkable display of humility by her reply “yes Lord, yet the dogs under the table eat of the children crumbs” Mark 27:28. She eventually got her miracle.


The woman refused to be offended by the Lords statement because she had the heart and obedience of a true worshipper. As true worshippers we should not care what anyone calls us, or says to us. You don’t even care how you are treated. All that matters to you is your love for the Lord and your desire to please him.

Always remember that it is to your glory to overlook or resist an offence. Don’t say “I can’t take that insult for any reason, you have been decorated with honour and dignity and no one can dishonour you. For the sake of Christ then be content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. (2 Corinthians 12:10).


OFFENCES DON’T DEFINE BUT REFINE YOU

Prayer Point: Father God, let your character and personality be revealed in and through us.

BY BISHOP NGOZI DURUEKE (HE REIGNS CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL) To send your testimony, write us: mylivingwaterdevotional@gmail.com.