Guard Your Hearts

There has never been a greater example of mercy and forgiveness, than that shown by the Lord Jesus Christ. In an age where offense is rising rapidly, we must learn to guard our hearts and remember the greatest act of love the world has ever seen: Jesus laying His life down for a world of unworthy sinners. Jesus speaking of the end time to his disciples in Matthew 24:10 (KJV) stated:

And then man shall be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Offense is not only a trap, but one of the greatest devices the enemy uses to keep people out of the kingdom, and to keep those in the kingdom ineffective. To really understand what Jesus meant by offense, let us look at the meaning in Greek. The Greek word for offense is Skandalon. The literal meaning of the word is a trigger or prop in a trap that causes it to snap shut. The animal or prey takes the bait inside and now is trapped until someone releases them or they die. A famous author wrote a whole series on this called The Bait of Satan (John Bevere). But the word offense in Matthew 24:10 is actually the verb Skandalizo, which is the actual action of setting a trap or causing someone to fall. Seeing the breakdown of its meaning should make us tremble at even thinking of taking the bait of offense.

Skandalizo:

1.      To put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another trip and fall

2.      To entice to sin

3.      To cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey

4.      To cause to fall away

5.      To be offended in one

6.      To cause to judge unfavorably or unjustly to another

7.      To cause displeasure at a thing

Offense begins to affect a person much the same way cancer does. It stays hidden deep in the cells. But if caught at stage one, it can often be dealt with quickly and without the life-threatening consequences. But when cancer is ignored and found to be at stage 4, it can quickly bring sickness, and often death. Just look at the effects the word Skandalizo has on the mind. It begins to make a person feel hurt and angry. This then leads to distrust, not only of people, but often the master Himself. The distrust then leads to more forms of disobedience. People often become critical and judgmental of others, becoming more blind to their own sin and faults.

But the greatest of all these effects, is the falling away of the Father’s children from their faith. Many become isolated, returning into old sins, thinking of past hurts. It would be ignorant of us to believe Jesus does not understand our pain just because He was sinless. The Bible plainly states that in Hebrews 4:15 (KJV):

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.

If ever a man had a right to be offended and take revenge it would be our High Priest and Lord Jesus Christ. He was beaten, persecuted, mocked, and killed by not just Romans, but by His own people. And they were the very people He came to save. But I remind you reader, you needed saved as well. And as Jesus said while hanging on His own cross nailed and bleeding “forgive them Father, they know not what they do.” Now Jesus is asking the same mercy He has extended to you to be extended to others. Jesus told us that if we do not forgive others of their trespasses that our Father would not forgive us of ours. That is why we are told in God’s word to guard our hearts will all due diligence, for from it flow the things of life. If we have received forgiveness and mercy from our Lord, then that should be what flows out from us.

If you are struggling with offense, no matter how justified it may seem, I pray for you to receive mercy and forgiveness in your heart towards your offender. Do not let the offense make you become an offender yourself. And when it feels impossible to forgive, let me give you truth from the word itself that you can stand on:

Philippians 4:3 (KJV ) - I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.

John 15:7 (KJV)  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it will be done unto you.

Let the love of Christ and His forgiveness abide and work in you through the Power of the Holy Spirit. Shalom…..