Part of our human nature is the ability to feel, I don’t mean just in the physical sense, but emotionally. Happy, sad, excited, and depressed to name a few. Today, let’s look beyond those, and concentrate on what our reactions are when someone irritates, annoys or ridicules us? It’s not easy, but knowing how we, as Christians, should respond is a vital part of spiritual maturity.
Think of someone you know, who is so emotionally fragile, that they must to be treated with kid gloves. There's that person who comes right to mind, am I correct? The one that popped into my head is a fellow Christian who takes offense at the most minor infractions. In fact, they told me that 30% of their time is spent being annoyed. Can you imagine confessing to that? Every time they’re around my 2 second brain-to-tongue delay turns on. It’s my hope that before any “offensive” words are spoken, my brain will send the cancel notice to my tongue. Talk about walking on egg shells! You never know what they’ll consider an offense, so spending time with them is nothing short of a crunchy, nerve-wracking roller coaster ride.
No one wants to hang around with people like that, and no one is drawn to Christ by that kind of behavior. Jesus was familiar with being offended. He was belittled by his peers; “Then they scoffed, ‘He's just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.’ “ Mark 6:3. He could have felt sorry for himself, but instead he told them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” His own disciples must have offended him with their doubts and accusations, but he used the time to build and encourage them rather than mope.
In addition to these spiritual wounds, we’re acutely aware of the physical offences he endured. “Easy for him”, you might say, “he could blow them off ,because he was God“. But, remember he was also a human man, with human feelings. “ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4:15. His response to offense should be ours. “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; “ Luke 6:29. Even on the cross, the greatest offense that he endured, he uttered this; "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34.
Impossible? Without his help, yes! Take a look at yourself closely. Are you covered with spiritual Band-Aids? Do you wear your emotional-offense bruises like badges of honor? Jesus wants to thicken your skin, to add insulating layers that will protect you from the offences that are sure to come your way. Are you ready to tear off those Band-aids and toughen up? Together, with Him, we can, and must let go of offense. “"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great;” Matthew 5:11.
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