The Effects of Offense (The Bait of Satan)

By Abi Lasquety Ruelo

The enemy uses offense to lure us away from God. The more offenses we take, the farther away from God we become. Offense builds a wall around us that nobody can penetrate. Just like the walls of Jericho, we cannot tear down the walls of offense we have built around ourselves. Ultimately, it is God who will tear down those walls with His forgiveness and HIs grace.

Can you imagine getting your foot stuck in a trap used to capture animals? That would be painful and bloody. And even if you shake it off, it still wouldn’t get off. You need to pry it open to be able to release your self. Offense is like that. You cannot just shake if off on your own. You have to pry it open with something else or with somebody else or else it can trap you forever.

John Bevere said, “The person who ca offend you the most, is the person closest to you or the one you love.” Why? Because they know you. They know which buttons to push to make you angry.

Luke 17:1-4 says, “Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to himto him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”” Jesus Himself said it! It is impossible that nobody will get offended! But He also told us what o do if we get offended.

What are the effects of offense? How long should an offense last?

1. Offense destroys and divides relationships. Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle.” When you get offended by someone, you begin to build walls. The longer you stay offended, the higher the walls become. When walls become high enough, sooner or later, they will be very difficult to tear down and you will be left alone inside.

2. Offense clouds judgement. Matthew 24:10-12 says, “ 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.” When we feel attacked, perceived or otherwise, we let ourselves enter into an uncontrolled anger and allow ourselves to fall into the devil’s trap by placing full blame on the person who offended us by placing the blame on he person who offended us without realizing that satan’s demons are merely manipulating us to bring us into a vicious cycle of anger bitterness and unforgiveness, thus rendering us useless to represent Jesus and His kingdom of love to this fallen world.

3. Offense produces bitter fruit. Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” If you let offense live i n your heart, it will bear fruit. Bitter fruit that only you can taste.

4. Offense results in defilement. Mark 7:20-23 says, “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For from within, out of the heart come evil thoughts,… envy, slander, pride and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Do you think an offended person will say anything nice? No. Offense and pride go hand and hand. Offense makes you defiled. Unclean. Dirty. Impure. You cannot offer anything to the Lord that is defiled.

5. Offense stalls spiritual growth. James 1:20-21 says, “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Because you have offense in your heart, your relationship with Jesus will not grow. You will feel stuck and not hear Him. If you do not grow spiritually, you think you will grow anywhere else? All growth will be stunted.

How can you overcome the rap of offense?

1. Refuse to take the bait. Proverbs 19:11 says, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook and offense.” In the first place, why get offended? If you are so rooted in God, just like many of us think we are, why get offended? Just brush if off and let it slide. It is not easy to let an offense go. But if we keep our eyes on Jesus and remember what He did for us on the cross, offenses will be a thing of the past.

2. Forgive. Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “Ge rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” It’s difficult to forgive. You can only do it by God’s grace. But forgiveness, like love, is a choice you have to make. You have to choose it because it is God’s command. Try to change your perspective and look at things in God’s eyes.

3. Let go of the past. Philippians 3:13-14 says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” It’s not easy to let go of an offense. But with God’s grace, you will be able to do it.

4. Love like Jesus. John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” We can love conditionally; but God calls us to love unconditionally. Love like Jesus did. See others with His eyes. Then, and only then, can we truly overcome the offenses done to us.

5. Always be ready. Ephesians 6:10-13 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Put on the full armor of God all the time and never take it off.

Your life is too short and your calling too great to be offended by something so small. Manage your expectations. Don’t get easily offended.