Live Unoffended

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

One morning as I sat down to do my morning Scripture reading, I picked up a book sitting next to my chair – “Circle Makers” by Mark Batterson. I just flipped through the yet-unfinished half and my eyes dropped to the phrase – LIVE UNOFFENDED.

My eye briefly scanned a sentence or two and was drawn to the idea of God’s sovereignty. That thought stuck with me — live unoffended. Oh, how much time, energy and effort are wasted by mulling over a perceived offense? I’ve had people come back to me and say – “I passed you on Tuesday (2-3 days prior) and you didn’t say ‘Hi’ – are you upset with me?” I wouldn’t even remember seeing them. Oh, but I’m just as guilty, thinking I know why someone did or said something or didn’t do or say something. OH, WHAT A WASTE! And we are probably wrong.
When we carry an offense –
1. It drains our energy
2. It distracts our attention
3. It is a result of living life focused on self
4. We are failing to love others as we love ourselves
5. It is sin
As I thought about it, in a sense – living unoffended is an acknowledgment and evidence of a life fully submitted and surrendered to the sovereignty of God, unwilling to waste time dwelling on a perceived offense which the enemy wants to blow way out of proportion to keep us distracted from what really matters — JESUS.Oh, Lord, I want to live unoffended, unwilling to be robbed of that which is most important, most precious, not me, but Thee.

PS – When I read more carefully pg. 88-89 of Batterson’s book the concept of living unoffended was referring to not being offended by God when He answers others’ prayers and not yours, but for me that morning – this was the lesson God wanted me to hear.

Written By Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and provides ministry support from her home in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.


Think About This: “Never let the presence of a storm cause you to doubt the presence of God.” -Craig Groeschel

The Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 1-5| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. -Joshua 1:8

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.

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