A Spirit of Offense

A spirit of offense is an emotional state characterized by extreme sensitivity and a tendency to be easily hurt. Offense occurs when we feel resentful due to an actual or perceived insult. It can stem from a single incident, and if left unresolved, it can consume our thoughts, significantly alter our perspective on life, and strain relationships. Sometimes, it’s an intentional insult, while other times, it’s an unintentional slight that we misunderstand. Regardless of someone’s intentions, we must acknowledge and address the hurt feelings we’ve experienced. 

“A brother offended is harder to win over than a strong city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle” (Proverbs 18:19). “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come” (Luke 17:1)!

Personal hurts and wounds can lead to deep resentment. An offended person can swiftly spread their resentment to others, contaminating not only their own life but also the lives of those around them with bitterness, anger, and distrust. Both the offended and the offender can end up polluted by bitterness. 

It’s an inevitable part of life that we will offend others and be offended in return. However, the key lies in how we respond.  An offense becomes a problem and escalates into a spirit of offense when we fail to process the hurt and let it go. Instead of addressing our hurt, we tend to harbor it, which can eventually consume our thoughts and hinder our relationship with God.

“Whenever you stand praying,” Jesus declared, “if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25).

Offense obstructs our prayers. It can tear apart marriages, families, friendships, and even churches. An unforgiving heart struggles to accept God’s truth and grow in faith. 

“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:15). 

Offenses can remain hidden in our hearts, unknown to others, until they manifest as unkind words and actions. If left unresolved, these offenses change into a “root of bitterness” that fosters bad attitudes and ruins relationships. 

Scripture provides excellent guidance on preventing and overcoming offense. Proverbs 4:23 advises us to guard our hearts, while James 1:19 emphasizes the importance of being slow to anger and quick to forgive. Romans 14:16 cautions against speaking ill of what is good, thereby avoiding conflict. When conflict arises, Jesus teaches us to address it directly with the offender and resolve our differences. Romans 12:21 encourages us to overcome evil with good, rather than resorting to further harm. Ultimately, the best advice is to emulate Christ’s example. Jesus forgave those who wronged Him, prayed for His enemies, and loved them unconditionally.

Scripture offers us forgiveness, reconciliation, and love. By embracing these Scriptural truths, believers can overcome the deceit of offense, restore relationships, and develop spiritual maturity. Let’s guard our hearts, practice patience, extend grace, and seek peace. By exercising these truths, we can share the love of Jesus and offer healing to a world torn apart by offense. 

Abundant Life In Christ

The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.


—Psalms 23:1 CEB

 

This verse is a powerful revelation and testimony. Because we have made the Lord our shepherd, we lack nothing. We should have an abundance of love, joy, grace, faith, health, and resources. While some people don’t believe this and even speak against it, God’s nature of blessing hasn’t changed. He's the God of more than enough.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).

When the Holy Spirit inspired John to write these words, he revealed God’s heart for all of His children. God’s will has always been for our health, the prosperity of our soul, and an abundance in all things. It was sin that brought sickness, sorrow, and the loss of God’s will. Yet, Christ has brought the abundance of God to dwell within us.

“You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance” (Psalms 65:11).



We often become the adversaries of God’s abundant life within us. We doubt, criticize, speak unbelief, and expect problems. The power of our words and our attitude can bring death to the blessings bestowed upon us by God (Proverbs 18:21).

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

The power of God is the creative force that works within us. His power is innovative and resourceful. His nature is expressed and manifested in our lives through the words of our testimony—our spoken words of love, faith, forgiveness, and blessing.

“My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalms 23:5b-6).

It is God’s divine plan for our lives to be filled with His abundant goodness and mercy until we finally meet Him face to face. He alone receives all the glory from our blessings in life.

“I have come,” Jesus declared, “that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Abundance comes from Christ within us. If we’re focusing on our external lives, we’ll speak death instead of life; we’ll miss the generous and bountiful impact the Kingdom of God has on our physical lives. However, if we’ll seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, all these things will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33).



Let God Prove Himself

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
—Matthew 11:29-30

Many people grapple with the weight of justice in life, driven by a desire to rectify wrongs and bring about positive outcomes. They may perceive situations that others overlook, but instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide them, they assume the burden of addressing these issues. This burden can be overwhelming, causing emotional distress and hindering their ability to find rest. Attempting to prove God’s justice can rob them of joy and peace, leaving them in a state of perpetual struggle.

Jesus assures them that they can find rest for their souls. He promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, giving them peace. He encourages them to lay aside their need to take care of His justice and instead learn from Him. 

Paul went to Damascus to put Christians in prison. He thought he was doing God’s will, persecuting Christians. But Paul found out that He was actually persecuting Jesus. He believed he was following God’s plan, but God introduced the real plan to him. Jesus told Paul He would preach about Him to the Gentiles. 

Sometimes, we carry the weight of God’s justice instead of the burden of His love. We focus on what needs to be done rather than learning from Him. We might believe we’re doing something that aligns with God’s will, but justice is His responsibility, not ours. When we carry the burden of justice, our lives become centered around our own needs, rather than the needs of others. God’s burden for us isn’t to bear the weight of justice; it’s to bring the lost and hurting to Him. His burden is to carry His compassion and love to those who are yearning for His fullness of new life.

We cannot bear the weight of God’s justice; it’s not within our capacity. This burden causes us to become self-centered and hinders the very essence of the One who sacrificed for us.  As a result, we end up persecuting ourselves.

Jesus came to serve, and we are called to serve others. Let go of your burdens and take on His. It is a light burden. Leave your worries with Him and take on His responsibility to care for those in need. 

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, for He is the one whose example you follow. He is the source of your peace and the wellspring of compassion within your heart. Never abandon the practice of laying yourself down and taking up His burden, for in doing so, you will discover the rest that your soul craves. His love will envelop your heart, claiming it as His own. 

Let God prove Himself to you.

Get Up And Join Him At The Table

In a well known New Testament account, a Canaanite woman approached Jesus, seeking healing for her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus informed her that He has been sent to the lost sheep of Israel and not to the Gentiles. His denial seems very harsh, but she has come to Him on the grounds of the Jewish covenant, which as a Gentile, she cannot do. 

Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
—Matthew 15:25-27

This woman’s persistence moved Jesus to grant her request. Consider the fact that this woman, even though she was a Gentile, didn’t let her unworthiness as a Canaanite keep her from Jesus. Her daughter’s need was paramount. Her humble, yet determined approach to Jesus, revealed her faith. She didn’t receive crumbs from the table. Her daughter was healed in that very moment.

Many Christians only hope to receive crumbs from the Master’s table. They feel like a stranger in His presence, conscious of their shortcomings, and not eligible for God’s favor. They believe that if someone with great faith approaches God for them in prayer, something might happen. They don’t realize they’re only seeking crumbs from the table, rather than being part of those seated in fellowship with Jesus at the table.

If you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you’re no longer an outcast. Jesus died for you. You were that one lost sheep. You are now seated at the table with Him. You don’t have to beg for crumbs. The whole banquet is yours. It doesn’t matter if you have a strong faith or struggle to believe. It doesn't matter if you are victorious in life or defeated. It doesn’t matter if you feel worthy or unworthy—loved or unloved. You are a child of the Most High God, a joint heir with Jesus Christ. You are seated at the table with Him.

God has brought you into His presence because of His love for you. His love for you is never-ending and unconditional. Everything on the table is for you. Jesus paid for it all with His precious blood. It’s free, my friend. Take what you need. There is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. There is comfort, healing, restoration, confidence, and victory.

If you’ve remained beneath the table most of your Christian life, I want you to know the crumbs aren’t for you. The banquet is. Why would you settle for the crumbs? You are worthy in God’s sight to sit at the table with Jesus. Get up and join Him at the table. In His presence is fullness of joy. At His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalms 16:11).

Envy

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
—Proverbs 14:30 ESV

Envy. Jealousy. Covetousness. It can consume us, stealing the fulfillment that the Holy Spirit imparts and killing the fruit of the spirit. It crucifies our love, robs our joy, and destroys our peace. Whatever patience we may have had vanishes because we are never satisfied. Moreover, whatever kindness and goodness we exemplified disappears because we don’t view others as valuable. We view them as a benchmark for our own lives. Consumed by our desire for more, we lose our self-control, our faithfulness wanes, and our hearts become hardened by constant competition. In the grip of envy, peace is an elusive dream.

Peace is life to us. When our hearts and minds are at peace, we can receive God’s fullness. Our souls find rest, and we no longer strive for more or seek to be the best. We can rejoice with others when they receive blessings. Our hearts are free to love without judgment. We don’t compare because there’s no competition. Without competition and comparison, not only is our soul at peace, but our physical bodies are also not stressed. Peace and joy are found in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).  If we are consumed by envy, constantly comparing our lives to others, and feeling inadequate even when we have enough, we will be driven by an insatiable desire for recognition and superiority. This relentless striving and dissatisfaction will consume us like a cancerous growth, corrupting our souls and bodies. 

Jesus came to rescue us from destruction. He is the solution to all the ailments of our soul and body (Psalms 107:20). While we may have accepted Him as our Savior, He must also be the Lord of our lives. We must surrender to the Word we have received.

“I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it,” Paul wrote, “and even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way” (1 Corinthians 3:2-3 ESV)?

How immature are we? Do we still need to be treated as spiritual babies requiring milk? When will we grow up and walk by the spirit instead of the flesh? Jealousy not only destroys our spiritual life but also breeds dissension and division. Envy not only hinders God’s ability to work within us but also destroys others. Now is the time to grow up. Instead of allowing envy to crush the Holy Spirit within us, it’s time to crucify envy. If you will walk by the Spirit, you won’t gratify the yearning of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

If God's love is in you, there’s no room for envy. You know He loves you so you love others. Love is patient, and it’s kind. Love doesn’t envy (1 Corinthians 13:4). It doesn't destroy lives. Love builds. Love creates. Love sees the best. Love doesn’t compare, and it doesn’t compete.

The time for solid food has come. Digest the Word until it talks back to you and you know Jesus as Lord.

Settle Only For God's Love

Don’t settle for the least. God doesn’t see the least in you. He sees Jesus in you. Don’t settle for the enemy’s lies. It’s his purpose to destroy you. He only has death for you. God has life and life more abundant for you.

It’s God’s goodness that has drawn you to repentance. Trust His goodness. Jesus died for your sins. They are as far as the east is from the west. He no longer sees all the years that you messed up. Jesus is your identity now. 

Jesus didn’t come to condemn you. He chose you to be blameless before God. The greatest exchange took place. Jesus, who had no sin, took yours by laying down His life for you. He took all your sins—past, present, and future, paid for all of them, and imparted to you the righteousness of God. Don’t keep trying to pay for sins you no longer owe. That is a pain that will hurt and condemn your heart. Don’t settle for that voice that won’t let thoughts of sin go. You cannot make yourself feel forgiven. You can't make yourself feel God's love. Jesus will do that as you keep renewing your mind with His Word. Keep drawing upon God’s truth, and let the Holy Spirit reveal Jesus to you. Exercise your senses every day to conform to His truth so you can experience the new person you are in His grace.

Settle only for God’s love. 

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, be able to comprehend what is the width and length and depth and height—that you would know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, and that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19).

May You Rejoice Over Me

 

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives.


—1 Chronicles 29:17a NLT

Does the Lord find integrity in my heart?  I can believe I love God with all my heart, but if I don't continually determine to have a heart of honesty and integrity, then I will fall short. Whatever I offer—whether friendship, compassion, correction, time, a listening ear, advice—must be offered from a heart with no agenda. It must be offered from a heart that seeks nothing in return. What I do or words that I speak must come from a heart that surrenders its selfish motives and needs no recognition. I want no mask. My heart lies open before Him. He knows the motives of my heart. Another may not know, but He does. He rejoices when He finds integrity in me.

My life in Jesus Christ is not about me. Whatever I give or whatever I do in His name should come from what He inspires within me and never from anything of my own making. Life tests me everyday to see if I have a heart of honesty and integrity. If I draw close to God, He will draw close to me. His Word will reveal the real intentions of my heart. Nothing will be hidden. I will know if He finds integrity in me or not. 

Lord, I am so thankful that when I seek you, you reveal the real motives of my heart—the ones I haven’t even realized were in me. Help me to honestly look at myself, humbly admit when my intentions are wrong, and allow you to change me. I desire the renewing power of your forgiveness and grace. Forgive me for anything I have ever done or said that has come from any other motive than yours. Continually create in me a pure heart, and renew your steadfastness within me. May what I do or say or offer always come from a heart that is surrendered, knowing its secure in you. May I walk in integrity, having nothing in my life to be discovered that doesn’t honor you. May you rejoice over me.


“He who walks with integrity walks securely” (Proverbs 10:9).

Betty

Her name was Betty. She was my son-in-law’s great aunt. She passed over a week ago at the age of 101. I knew no one like her. She could have given up because of a lifetime of incredible hardship. But she never did. She served her family instead of herself. She loved and physically took care of a husband with dementia, two daughters, and a granddaughter until they all passed. Betty opened her home to family and those who needed her. She was always available to help others through the hard times of life.

Years ago when I first visited Betty in her home, her kitchen counters were filled with food she had fixed, and her heart overflowed with joy you had come. Her heart at 101 still overflowed with joy and concern for others. She always asked about your family and how you really were. When young people visited assisted living, they would always come to see her. She would declare that these children were the very best and she had such high hopes for them. The truth is people wanted to visit Betty. If you were having a hard day, her laughter and encouragement would bring joy to your heart. 

Betty always saw the best in people, listening to the concerns of their hearts and unashamedly giving advice. She never stopped wanting to take care of people. She wanted to take care of herself at NHC Place so that those who took care of her wouldn’t have to work so hard. She declared they had their own lives at home, husbands and children to take care of, yet were so good to her. It concerned Betty that her granddaughter, Cindy, who was responsible for her care, chose to put her own life on hold because of her. She knew Cindy would always be there to take care of her, and she wanted Cindy to be free to go to Tennessee where she had built a new home.

There is so much more I could write about Betty. But no words I write could explain how this beautiful person has impacted my life. She was always quick to tell you who had impacted hers. Each time my friend, Debbie, and I visited Betty, she wanted to talk about Jesus. She said Jesus had walked right in front of her all the days of her life and was still walking in front of her. She never got in front of him. She declared that it wasn’t her place to do that. Betty often said she could just reach up, and there Jesus was, helping her button her blouse that her fumbling fingers couldn’t button or helping her do the hard things that she had once found easy. 

I visited Betty recently on a Saturday. For the first time she didn’t know who I was. She kept looking over my shoulder and smiling at something behind me. Betty had been tired for quite awhile. Debbie and I had prayed that Jesus would send His angels for her. Three days after my visit, this sweet lady who was always quick to declare she had followed Jesus all the days of her life, followed Him right into eternity.

This month I turn 78. Remembering Betty has make me think about my own time to leave this world. I’m so thankful that I will not only see Jesus and my family who have gone before me, but I’ll also see Betty. She promised to prepare a grand feast for me. I yearn to share heaven one day with my family. Betty would always lean forward in her recliner and take my hand and tell me to just keep loving and praying for them. To never give up. I have to continually trust that Jesus will reach each one of them with His unconditional love and grace. 

If you are older like me, you know what it means to anticipate your life on earth will soon be over. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, He has loved you from the very beginning. His grace looks beyond the sins that have tried to destroy you and sees your need to be free—to be loved. Open your heart to Him. Lay everything down. Invite Him to come into your life. He won’t force you. He loves you enough to give you the right to choose or refuse Him. Don’t refuse Him. He will come into your life and wash away all that has separated you from His love. All your past, present, and future sins will no longer be yours. You will no longer own them. You will never have to carry them again. You can have a new life in Jesus. You can receive the gift of His unconditional love and grace. No words I write can describe the relief and joy you will experience. 

To my dearest friend, Betty, “You have been one of my greatest encouragers. I will see you again. You said to me only a few weeks before you passed, ‘We will sit down, Lynn, and have a cup of coffee that I can make again and eat something I can bake again. And we will rejoice in Jesus.’”

“Oh, yes, Betty, we will."




Love Without Hypocrisy

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
—Romans 12:9

Hypocrisy is “a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude” (dictionary.com). The Greek word that was used in Romans 12:9 for “without hypocrisy” was “anupokritos,” and it means “unfeigned, undisguised” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). A Christian who loves “without hypocrisy” is sincere, honest, and transparent. He has no need to pretend to be something that he isn’t. He’s secure in his relationship with God.

Paul continued in this verse, still talking about love: “Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” “Abhor” means “to detest utterly.” True love hates the things that hurt those we love. If we don’t hate the things that steal, kill, and destroy someone, then our love isn’t God’s kind of love. And if we don’t hate evil, our love for God is hypocritical. 

Often, real feelings are hidden behind a self-righteous mask. While it’s important to be tactful and avoid intentionally hurting others, there are times and places when speaking the truth in love is necessary.

In Leviticus 19:17, the Lord commanded, “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.” 

This verse is saying that if we fail to reprimand our brother or sister when we see sin, then we hate them. Many people have hidden their true feelings about evil under the pretense of loving someone too much to hurt their feelings. However, the truth is a person who is unable to speak the truth in love is a hypocrite. They say nothing because they run the risk of being rejected. 

We must love the sinner but hate the sin. It’s impossible to truly love someone with the kind of love that comes from God without hating anything that threatens their well-being. There is a righteous type of anger that isn’t sin (Matthew 21:12). Our anger should never be at our brother or sister in Christ. Our anger is at the devil for defrauding, swindling, and deceiving them. 

We reveal the truth of the enemy’s lies with God’s unconditional love and grace, never with a “I’m better than you” attitude. God’s love is perfectly good and full of mercy. His love sees beyond the fault in us and sees our need. His love reveals the real intentions of the heart, not only the heart of the one we love, but also ours. The true love of God is never above anyone else. It comes to serve. God’s love in us can draw someone to repentance.

Is your heart hurting for someone right now? Perhaps, a brother or sister in Christ that has been deceived by the enemy? They may be blind to the fact that their sin and their attitude is stealing the abundant life Jesus has for them, or they may be fully aware of their sin and think that they care less. Deep within, they don't care less. Deep within, they are scared to death. You can see them restored. You can see them healed. How much do you love them? Really love them? Enough to risk their rejection and anger? Enough to say, “I’m hurting for you and where you are right now. Will you let me help you, friend?”

Love with the love of Jesus. He looked beyond your fault and saw your need. You can do the same. Let your love be without hypocrisy.

Practicing God's Presence

Prayer is nothing else than a sense of God’s presence.
—Brother Lawrence

In the midst of crisis or change, Christ is with me. In the midst of the storm, He is my safe fortress. He guards me from the breakers that would crush me. But He is more than just a secure fortress. He is my strength to not only endure, but to victoriously overcome. There is never any reason to fear when the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I have the perfect love of Christ within me. God is the one great constant in my life—the same yesterday, today, and forever. Abiding in His love, He claims my thoughts, and His peace guards my soul. I discover that I, also, am strong in His grace. Because He is steadfast and unchanging, I can be steadfast and unchanging. As He is in this world, so am I. I can walk in His peace that overcomes this fallen world with the authority He has bestowed upon me.

Doesn’t this sound amazing? Isn’t this the abundant life Jesus died to give us? But don’t we all struggle at times to walk in it? He is consistent. We are the ones who don’t allow Him to be constant and consistent in our lives. We are the ones to leave the fold and wander off. 

Abiding in God’s presence is what makes the difference between living a defeated life and a victorious one. The presence of the Holy Spirit in my life must be practiced. To live an overcoming life, I must be in fellowship with God daily in prayer until His Word becomes a habit, and He is unconsciously rendered. I unconsciously “pray without ceasing.” He is just “there” at the moment I need Him. He is just “there” in moments of sudden disaster when, without Him, my world would cave. But practicing His presence everyday has brought His immediate peace in that moment. 

I don’t always know what to pray, but the Holy Spirit prays for me. I consciously submit to Him, and He prays God’s perfect will. The external voices are silenced, and I know His peace, no matter the waves crashing around me. I choose to practice His presence everyday. I choose to abide in Him. I may go through a busy day with no issue, and my conscious mind is busy with my schedule. Then suddenly I hear or see something that is earth-shattering. It bombards me. I speak the name of Jesus because I know He is in me just waiting to be drawn from the unconscious depths of my spirit into the consciousness of my soul. Peace arises that transcends logic. It defeats the emotions that attempt to have control. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Practicing His presence has brought His peace.

Do you have that sense of God's presence? He is right there within you speaking peace in the midst of your storm, but you may not realize it. Christ is always in you, my friend in Christ, never forsaking or leaving you. But for Him to make a difference in your mind, will, and emotions, you must draw Him into your conscious existence. He must impact you and your world. His presence is practiced by faith. If you will pray in faith and practice His presence everyday, He will go with you consciously through the days of your life, rendering peace, joy, and victory.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). 

If you are born-again, you have Jesus on the inside of you to be exercised in your life. Practicing His presence transcends all the conscious bombardment of hardship, pain, and suffering, and brings it all under the authority of Jesus Christ. His name is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Practice His Presence everyday until He is only what is rendered in your life. May His joy always remain in you so that your joy shall always be full.