In our present culture, many of us have [perhaps unknowingly] become conditioned to live in a state of offense. We may believe that living life offended with other people is normal.
Below are examples of state of offenses I have observed in our day-to-day lives (myself included):
- We receive poor service by the wait staff at a restaurant. We expected better, so we grumble and complain about how the service should have been better and refuse to leave a tip, or a tip so small to teach the waiter a lesson that he should do better next time.
- The cashier doesn’t return the proper change, so we attack her with our words about how she should know basic math.
- Driving in traffic, people blare their horns, roll down their windows and shout at one another, or use unfriendly hand gestures.
- At a doctor’s appointment, we are not seen within the 15 to 30 minutes of our scheduled appointment time. Therefore, we begin to complain about how they do not respect our time.
- Checking out at the grocery store, the person in front of us does not have enough money and has to return items. And we’ve already unloaded our cart and are forced to wait. More time wasted out of our busy schedule.
- We call customer service and we must go through a myriad of prompts that takes 15 minutes before we finally talk to a real person, then we have to answer all the same questions again. We spend an hour on the phone for what seemed like should have taken only 15 minutes to resolve in the first place.
In my opinion, the enemy of our soul has taught us to live with high expectations of others. When those expectations are NOT met, we easily take on an offense. Sadly, this seems to be the norm among people in our society.
Where does this offense come from? Jesus told us that one of the signs that the end is near that many will be offended.
“And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:10-13 NKJV).
My brothers and sisters, the enemy of our souls wants us to live in a state of offense. He knows that an offense causes division among God’s people.
“But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand’” (Matthew 12:25).
IF believers live in a state of offense, then the enemy has caused division among us. If we are divided, we will fall.
The first step to overcoming a lifestyle of a state of offense is to recognize it in our own lives. Then recognize the lie that living offended is normal.
For Christ followers, Living life offended with others is not normal!
We must be aware that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us an abundant life (John 10:10).
The real enemy is not another person who is in our lives, but the spirit of offense operating to cause us to live in a state of offense.
Have you been conditioned to believe living in a state of offense is normal? Do you recognize a state of offense in your life?
Let’s pray: Father God, I come humbly before You today. I acknowledge that I recognize that I have fallen for the enemy’s schemes of creating a state of offense in my life. I ask You to forgive me of my sins and wash my heart clean. I pray that You teach me how to live according to Your will. In Jesus name, Amen.
