Break Free预览

The most commonly used Greek word for an offense—Skandalon—is stated in the New Testament. Skandalon is the trigger of a trap, on which bait is placed. When an animal touches the trigger to eat the bait, the trap springs shut and the animal is caught. An offense is an enticement to a conduct which will ruin the person in question. 

When my wife and I lived in a duplex, I saw that in the basement we had a mouse. I cannot stand those little creatures, and the knowledge that they are running around when I sleep, gives me the chills. I knew that I was not fast enough to catch them with my hands or kill them with a stick. I did what every good homeowner would do. I got into my car, drove to Wal-Mart, and bought some mouse traps. I put bacon and peanut butter as bait on the trap, and I left the trap to work its magic. I would never be able to get rid of the mouse if the mouse would resist the urge to eat bacon and peanut butter. I never forced it to get to the bait. In fact, I was not present in the house when the mouse got its back snapped by the force of the trigger. That is exactly how the Devil works. 

You see, he cannot get to us directly, because we are covered by the blood, serving God, and walking in the Spirit. We are annoying to him, because we disturb his kingdom and ruin his plans on earth. So, the Devil has been using an indirect method to get to us—the best method, since the beginning of creation—offense. 

Jesus teaches us that we are unable to avoid encountering offenses. As long as there are people on earth, there will be pain and hurt. Even if you live holy before the Holy God, you will get hurt. Abel did, Joseph did, David did, Jesus did, and so will you. 

The only thing we can do is avoid causing offenses to others, but we cannot avoid bad things from happening to us. When we get hurt, the Devil wants to use anger, grudges, bitterness, and resentment to make us feel like we are in control. No one can hurt us again, because we build walls around us to keep people away. It is a trap, the Devil’s bait.