The Cross Is The Antidote For Offence

 

Offence is a common experience for most of us. Our response to offence is what makes the difference to how we will manage our lives. If we give in to offence then it will haunt us for the rest of our lives. Offence is the devil's strategy to upset people from achieving their destiny. Like failure, it will keep you from moving forward. We all are quilty  of offending others by word or deed. Offence works both ways. It affects the offender and the one offended. The offender feels guilty for causing the offence to another. The offended feels ashamed and put down. In both cases, offence has caused an insult to our soul. Our thoughts and feelings have been assaulted. We see the other person as one to avoid and demean and insult. What is the way out of this cycle of offence?

 

Jesus is a good example of one who suffered offence all His life. He came as the Saviour of mankind but suffered because of our sin. On the Cross, He took upon Himself the blame and the shame that we feel. While on earth, He did not retaliate because He knew who really was the offender. The devil uses people to offend because that is his job description. The devil was thrown out of Heaven and in response he was hell bent on causing offence through man as a way to pay God back. God took it upon Himself to save us from the offence. Jesus paid the price by going to the Cross and carrying our offences upon Himself. Now we are free from the hurt of offences as we embrace His salvation full and free.

 

Offence is causing so much damage in the body of Christ. The devil is targeting leaders since they are on the front line. How a leader copes with offences will determine how he will lead his flock. Many drop out of ministry because they have given in to the offences from people close to them. The devil's strategy is to divide and rule. He has done this well over the centuries. Now is the time to reverse this trend and give the devil a hard time. We must send the offences we experience to the Cross and leave them there. We must rise up and use the experience to turn our offence into the joy of suffering for Jesus’ sake. He said we would face suffering but also joy. Most of all, we will experience the power of His resurrection. So let go of any offences and let God take over and we will see revival come to our land.