In a world of offence

We all live in a world that we know is broken and dark. It has been like that since the fall of Adam and Eve when sin entered. As much as we think we understand how things were then I do not think we will ever fully comprehend what pushed God to flood the entire world. If you look at the world today, we miss that Jesus said before His second coming the world will be as in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39).

So, yes, the world around us is slowly decaying into what it once was, and we see more and more the darkness of man as their sins are exposed by people. Even in our day-to-day lives we are often offended by people and by circumstances. Some of these turn into bitterness that most live with all their lives and end up dying with.

People gossip and people judge. I honestly think you would never understand how it feels to be falsely accused and judged until you stand in a position where people lie and gossip over you. It is one thing if the gossip has any substance but if you are accused falsely and ridiculed out of hatred or pure selfish desire then the picture is a different story.

Joseph’s life portrays a very similar and harsh reality that many face today and if he came out of it with a vengeful heart, he would have destroyed the twelfth tribes of Isreal including Judah, from which Jesus was born.

He was captured by his brothers (people close to him) and sold into slavery. Instead of being bitter and filled with hatred he worked and obeyed his master to the extent that he was promoted to oversee the entire household of Potifar. Potifar’s wife tried to take advantage of him and instead of submitting to the temptation, he fled from it.

He was hen falsely accused of rape and ended up in an Egyptian prison which by all standards was a place you are send to, to die. Instead of being offended and bitter he chose to stay true to God and was finally released and because of his obedience was put in charge of Egypt.

This position offered him the ability to punish those who hurt him so much, yet he chose to forgive and to bless them instead.

Sometimes the very one we place in prison is not the one who offended us, but ourselves. Hatred and bitterness are the very chains we put on ourselves that end up destroying us and keep us from entering heaven. Jesus said it so plainly in Matthew 5 “Your ancestors have also been taught. Love your neighbors and hate the one who hates you. However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil. What reward do you deserve if you only love the loveable? Don’t even the tax collectors do that? How are you any different from others if you limit your kindness only to your friends? Don’t even the ungodly do that? Since you are children of a perfect Father in heaven, become perfect like him.”

As hard as it is, it is in essence complete freedom. If you can love and pray for the very one that hates you and seeks your destruction, you not only show and live the very example Jesus taught and lived, but you free your soul from bitterness and unnecessary torment.

I know it is hard but the moment you step into prayer with a broken and repenting heart desperately seeking Jesus and His grace, He will lovingly heal your soul and remove all offence and give you peace that surpasses all understanding.

The only one that will bring back this hurt is you and once you have handed it over and allowed Jesus to replace it with His love and grace and you step into your new heart and new person, this stronghold will be no more. He will release it from you and give you the strength and courage to overcome it all.

Then you will truly be free and you will truly find peace and rest and life in abundance.

Do not allow the lies of the enemy and the hatred of people to determine or alter your identity but remain steadfast in Jesus and who He says you are. He sees your heart and He knows what you are going through, just step into faith and hand it over.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth - Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear and will trust in the Lord.”