Offenses

Good morning brothers and sisters. We are starting this New Year off with a warning from Jesus! I want to look at His words in Luke. You know people get offended so easy right now. Most things I don't get offended over. I let a lot of things go. But somethings are worth it. Jesus says so. Luke 17:1-4. The word offense in Greek is skandalon. This word comes from bent-stick. The stick that is used to pull the trap onto something. It is a trap intentionally set up to get someone. This is why the punishment is so harsh. 1- Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!" Jesus right here says offenses will come. You better be prepared to be offended. It is going to happen. But the one who brings the offense gets a woe! 2- It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and her were thrown into the sea, than he should offend one of these little ones." Now to be honest I use to think this meant children. But it actually means His children. The one who brings the offense against the children of God should be prepared for great consequences. They are intentionally trying to trip them up. They are intentionally trying to get them to stumble and fall. I would hope that brothers and sisters in Christ would not try to get each other to stumble and I mean those who are truly living in Christ. But we do. But what if they ask for forgiveness? 3- Take heed to yourselves, if your brother sins against you, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4- And if he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, "I repent," you shall forgive him. Notice he is talking of brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to forgive each other. We are to point out each other's sin in LOVE! Love is the key. We also need to make sure our own house is in order to be able to see righteously. The whole is do not cause your brothers and sisters to stumble and when a brother and sister does, forgive them. Go to them, talk with them and forgive each other. We also need to stop being offended over every little thing and start rising up over salvation issues. Lets start this new year with a clean slate with each other. Lets come together in Christ Jesus and unite and get on with kingdom business. The enemy is here to steal, kill and destroy. We are the opposite. Let's fight the good fight and run the race. Have a blessed day! Rise up child of God, rise up!