Years ago, I bought a silver Honda Civic. It wasn’t until later I noticed the abundance of silver cars on the road. It couldn’t be that it suddenly became the color of choice, but I never paid attention before purchasing my own. Silver no longer looked sporty—just common.
The same can be said for my recent revelation over the number of people I’m in contact with who are acting (or should I say reacting) in the wake of a personal offense. Since starting to read The Bait of Satan by John Bevere—which I’ve referenced in previous blogs—my eyes have been opened to the truly damaging effects holding onto offenses has on relationships, the ultimate being that of our connection with Jesus Christ.
The petty excuses people give for church hopping is one example. A friend of mine, who no longer lives in the area, tried just about every Christian church in the county before claiming none were quite right for her. Of course not, she was looking for perfection in a body of imperfect people—she being one of them! This church offended because they weren’t friendly enough. That church offended because they didn’t teach from the Bible. Another offended because they did teach from the Bible and she didn’t want to hear the truth.
And although John Bevere’s focus is mainly on this exact thing, I have been in the midst of personal relationships that were torn apart due to one offense or another—my first marriage being one of them. Mothers and daughters not speaking, brothers and sisters in constant battle, families that suffer tension and backbiting with every get-together. The sides are drawn and no one wins.
Except Satan. As John 10:10 says, The thief comes only to kill, steal, and destroy…” And he’s using offenses as the bait.
We are commanded to forgive—“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37
Satan likes to use a method called Divide and Conquer. Split apart churches, families, friendships, and he severs our connection with Jesus Christ, who gave His life in the ultimate act of forgiveness. We love because we were first loved by Him—and we are called to forgive for the very same reason.
A few years ago, a woman I attended Bible study with suddenly began giving me the cold shoulder. At first I thought I was being over sensitive, so I tested it. No, she was definitely tuning me out. It was even more obvious because she made a point of being very friendly with my husband while looking right through me. After much prayer, I contacted her and asked if I’d offended her in some way. “Yes,” she said. “You interrupted me while I was speaking one day. It was extremely rude.”
Seems ludicrous, but I have to admit I’ve been guilty of holding onto offenses of my own. Why is it we can be so unaware of our own faults but be keenly tuned into the faults of others? Why is it we’re willing to give Satan a foothold into our relationships while turning our backs on Jesus’ command to forgive?
So, what’s your color of choice? Satan or Jesus Christ? Because whether we want to admit it or not, we’re under submission to one or the other.
Comments 1
I made the mistake of reading the “Bait of Satan.” Don’t get me wrong, I loved the book and agreed with its theology. But… I gave this book to my sister telling her how much I loved it, thinking she would feel the same way. She took offense, and has rarely spoken to me since.
The test was on.
Would I reciprocate in kind? Or would I be kind?
I choose kindness with the help of God.
Jennifer your recap helped remind me today to carry on in love, because my color of choice remains Jesus.