Don't Be Caught Off Guard—Two2Grow, Friday, July 17
Don't Be Caught Off Guard—Two2Grow, Friday, July 17
“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matthew 18:7 NKJV
If you are not offended right now, get ready—you will soon have an opportunity to be offended. I don't need a prophetic word to predict that!
There are many of Jesus' words that I love and have highlighted in my Bible, but today's verse is not one of them, especially the phrase "Offenses must come." But it's true. Jesus doesn't just tell us what we want to hear; He tells us what we need to hear.
What Jesus is warning us about is more than the feelings of frustration and resentment we experience when someone cuts us off in traffic, when a customer service representative has a bad attitude toward us, or when we get ghosted on social media. Those experiences are real, and we need to bring them to Jesus.
The offenses Jesus is especially speaking about are the traps that cause us to fall into sin, break covenant with God, and become unfaithful to Him.
It seems that different temptations affect different people depending on our personality, background, longings, and desires. One way we can prepare for the offenses Jesus warned us would come is by getting to know ourselves and recognizing our weak areas.
Think about this: Where do you need to be especially careful?
If you don't know, ask God to reveal the areas where you need to be most on guard, and then strengthen those areas.
How? By spending time in God's Word and prayer and by seeking counsel and encouragement from a trusted brother or sister in Christ.
Jesus, I pray that You would strengthen me for the battle. Show me the areas where I need to be alert and grow, and help me not be caught by surprise. Amen.
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD
If you are not offended right now, get ready—you will soon have an opportunity to be offended. I don't need a prophetic word to predict that!
There are many of Jesus' words that I love and have highlighted in my Bible, but today's verse is not one of them, especially the phrase "Offenses must come." But it's true. Jesus doesn't just tell us what we want to hear; He tells us what we need to hear.
What Jesus is warning us about is more than the feelings of frustration and resentment we experience when someone cuts us off in traffic, when a customer service representative has a bad attitude toward us, or when we get ghosted on social media. Those experiences are real, and we need to bring them to Jesus.
The offenses Jesus is especially speaking about are the traps that cause us to fall into sin, break covenant with God, and become unfaithful to Him.
It seems that different temptations affect different people depending on our personality, background, longings, and desires. One way we can prepare for the offenses Jesus warned us would come is by getting to know ourselves and recognizing our weak areas.
Think about this: Where do you need to be especially careful?
If you don't know, ask God to reveal the areas where you need to be most on guard, and then strengthen those areas.
How? By spending time in God's Word and prayer and by seeking counsel and encouragement from a trusted brother or sister in Christ.
Jesus, I pray that You would strengthen me for the battle. Show me the areas where I need to be alert and grow, and help me not be caught by surprise. Amen.
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD