THE RIGHT TO BE OFFENDED

Have you noticed how easily offended our society has become? It’s embarrassing really. Seemingly overnight, we’ve become an over-sensitive, finger-pointing society that whines about everything. We’ve lost the ability to turn the other cheek and instead feel the need to personally right every perceived wrong committed against us. I can’t throw many stones since I’m offended by how easily everyone else is offended. Oh, the irony! But what would happen if I gave up my right to be offended? What would happen if everyone gave up their right to be offended?

It didn’t take long before I was able to put this newfound idea into practice when someone, you guessed it, offended me. Everything within me wanted to lash out and vindicate myself, but then I remembered… “give up your right to be offended.” This was hard! But I took my complaint to God and said, “I’m going to give up my right to be offended, and I ask You to be my defender.” Then I went on with my day. I even forgot why I was upset because I wasn’t rehearsing the event over and over in my mind and adding fuel to the fire. When I gave up my right to be offended, in return, God gave me His peace as I trusted Him to be the defense of my life.

The Bible clearly states that if you are a child of God, then He is your defender. We honor Him when we trust Him. I’m so thankful that Jesus modeled this for us. What if He hadn’t given up this “right” as He hung on the cross on our behalf? If anyone had the right to be offended, it was Him. He was completely innocent but was treated as if He were the worst criminal in the world. He had the power to unleash His fury at any moment and vindicate Himself, but in complete submission, He humbled Himself and trusted God the Father’s plan. He was obedient, even to death on a cross. The wages of sin are death so staying on the cross was necessary for Jesus to be able to die on our behalf so that we may live. Because of His sacrifice and His unwavering trust in God the Father, He conquered death and offers eternal life to all who look to Him to be saved. What a wonderful (and successful) choice to give up His right to be offended and trust the Father’s plan.

CONSIDER THIS:

Being offended doesn’t make you right.