Offenses

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day - full of hope, opportunity & promise - begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! :)

At our church, the Pastor is currently preaching a sermon series titled, Thin Skin. It is about offenses, about how we are so easily offended, the problems/challenges of being offended and/or offensive. Some of you need to hear this series! :) That was a joke...we ALL need to hear this series.

This morning I just want to share a few thoughts about what we have learned.

1. We should not be surprised about offenses...it is actually Biblical. Matthew 24, in explaining signs of the end times, says in verse 10, "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." Sound familiar?! Sadly, it is a pretty accurate description of our world today.

Offenses will come. We are all different, with different thoughts, ideas and perspectives. We are not all going to agree and sometimes the things people say and do offend our hearts, offend our spirits. But here is the thing, while we cannot control what others say, think or do, we do have a very powerful choice...we can always choose how we will respond. Yes Dear Friends, I know it is not easy. And if I am honest, I have failed at this one far more often than I have succeeded. This does not change the reality that ultimately, being offended is a choice I make. And My Sweet Friends, you have the same choice.

2. We are all offensive to someone at some point in time. Offended?! Not everyone is going to agree with all your thoughts, ideas, words and actions. And then, with this, they will make the same choices that we make - to be offended or not.

And many will say, "Well that is just who I am!" and that is their excuse for choosing to be offensive to another. The Bible talks about this too. It says in 1 Corinthians 8:9, in talking about food that was acceptable to eat but offended others when doing so, "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak." Did you catch that really key word, "rights." Oh how we love that word! "I have the right to [fill in the blank with whatever you want]. Yes Sweet Friends, we may have the "right" to do many things however it does not mean we should. If our "rights" heart the hurt of another, we would be wise not to exercise our rights. In this "me" world, that makes no sense. As a Christ follower, it makes perfect sense. It is not about me - it is about loving, caring for and serving others. All others...not just the one's who look, act, think and talk like me! I really gotta work on that one too!

3. And then Pastor Huskey spoke words that were like a 2 x 4 right between the eyes. He said we "have informed heads but illiterate hearts." Ouch! And he is so very right...

We know our rights. We are highly educated on many, many things. And then we all want to speak "our truth." But do we love?

The Bible tells us that we all have two purposes - to love God and to love people. We can be 100% right, 100% within our rights and if we don't have a heart of genuine love for others - all others! - we are 100% wrong. 

What part of the Bible do you and I believe? We believe the parts we actually live. We don't want to hear about not being able to do the things we want to do, that we have the right to do. Oh, the horror of focusing on genuinely loving, caring for and serving others so much that we place their peace above our rights. Why would I sacrifice like that? Are you kidding me?! Don't you know we live in a me first, instant gratification world? Sweet Friends, let me tell you a brief story about a man who had no sin. He came to serve and not be served. Though he had done nothing wrong, though He didn't want to - stressed to the point of sweating drops of blood! - He died a painful death on the cross that you and I might have eternal life. And I must tell you, He rose again! He is a man who literally forfeited every right, to the point of death, for you and me. What part of the Bible do you believe?

I don't profess that any of this is easy. It is extremely difficult and, quite honestly, I know I am terribly inadequate to do this in my own wisdom, strength and courage. I do know, however, that with God, all things are possible. I will cling to this truth, seek Him daily and strive to be neither offended or offensive. I simply invite you to join me on this journey.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families!

Kev