Faith

by Debbie Wallis

is to address your desire for security As long as feelings of security are rooted in you and your ability, the tendency to take offense will exist If your feelings of security are rooted in whom you are through Christ your perspective will change and your response to the actions and comments of others will become more balanced “I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13. It’s through Christ you can do anything If you get offended over someone else’s strengths do you not believe that they too can do all things through Christ that strengthens them?

something valuable to yourself the reminder that your security is not based on others’ opinions of you but on the security you have in Christ

“I have been crucified with Christ. I have died, but Christ lives in me and now I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave His life for me,” Galatians 2:20.

We all know someone who is easily offended Maybe you are the one who walks through life with a chip on your shoulders and you can’t seem to get rid of it If anyone dares to differ from your idea, your way of doing things you get easily offended or even easy to anger The tendency to take offense at little things is usually rooted in a false perspective of security Security, safety and a good opinion of us from others is something we desire If you were falsely praised or constantly criticized as a child you may associate good opinions with performance When your security is based on your performance, you may feel threatened when someone expresses something negative about you or just has a different view than yours The natural response to that threat is to take offense or become angry Even a casual or offhand remark can gnaw at us and steal our peace But, that is our fleshes response not our spirit man

The way to prevent taking offense

In my opinion a mean and rude Christian is an oxymoron That’s what Galatians 2:20 is all about We are to die to our mean and rude self and live as Christ did. Nevertheless, mean is mean, rude is rude and mean rude people hurts our feelings But, being easily offended and taking it personal will become less about you and more about “why” hurting people hurt people if you can see yourself through the perspective of your Savior along with seeing others as equal in that brotherhood of adoption

“You will keep your friends if you forgive them, but you will lose your friends if you keep talking about what they did wrong,” Proverbs: 17:9. We’re told to “cover” offenses The covering of offense is related to love 1 Peter 4:8, “Love covers over a multitude of sins ” In any relationship there are many irritating things that should just be “covered” for the sake of love By covering an offense, or not revealing it to others, we are empathizing with the offender and extending the benefit of the doubt

“It is wise to be patience and it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense,” Proverbs 19:11 Forgiveness is an honorable thing When you forgive you give grace and empathy to the offender. When you overlook an offense, you choose to give

Jesus told His disciples on multiple occasions that if they prayed for anything in His name, or according to His will, they would have what they asked for Do you believe that God wants you to be angry with others or to be forgiving of them? Do you believe that your security is in Him or in yourself? If you pray consistently, asking Him to help you not take offense, He will answer that prayer because it is His will for you not to be easily offended Ask Him to remind you of His secure and steadfast love, He will answer that prayer You can confidently pray for help in every offending situation (Hebrews 4:16)

Jesus was reclining and a woman entered the room with an alabaster jar of fine perfume The woman broke the container and anointed Jesus’ head with the fragrant ointment (Mark 14:3). Immediately, she was criticized In fact, “they rebuked her harshly” (verses 4–5) The woman could have taken offense by the way she was treated But Jesus came to her defense; “Leave her alone” (verse 6) The woman’s love of Christ and her meek response to an offense were honored, and “wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (verse 9) That is true today through songs and sermons about pouring out everything that’s of value to you and the feet of Jesus.

God has given us two ways to deal with offense We are to think about the other person and pray for their healing of the hurts, hang-ups and addictions they are battling If you belong to Christ, you are fundamentally secure in Him You do not need to react and defend yourself because He has promised to defend us (Isaiah 35:3–4). If you struggle to trust God or struggle to believe that you are secure in Him then pray for the strength to do so and He will answer (John 14:13–14)

If you go through life with a chip on your shoulder, easily offended and just daring it to be knocked off you are weighed down and unbalanced. You may have walked that way for so long that you don’t recognize it anymore but others see it as plain as light in the darkness. You cannot be all God created you to be or do all you are created to do; you cannot love with the love of Christ and be easily offended. Lay that chip on your shoulders at the foot of the cross and feel the weight lifted in Jesus name

If you don’t have a Bible please contact me at sfadebbie@yahoo.com and I will provide you one

Red River Cowboy Church Day Camp

Red River Cowboy Church DAY CAMP “WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT BULLYING?”

Friday June 26, 6:30pm to 8:30pm IT ALL STARTS WITH KTCC YOUTH BAND, FELLOWSHIP, REGISTRATION AND COWBOY SUPPER

Saturday June 27 from 9:00am to 2:00pm we will study what the bible say about bullying. Music, activities and lunch for ages 4 through 17.

Registration is on any Sunday at the church between 10:00 and 12:00 or call 903 532 9019 or 903 821 7006

We look forward to seeing you!

Red River Cowboys Church is located on Hwy 691 off of US75 west of TMC hospital