We’re just too easily offended these days.
You’re not patriotic enough—I’m offended.
You have an opinion that differs from mine, and you’re louder about your opinion than I am about mine—I’m offended.
You give me unsolicited advice about how to save money or fight off a virus—I’m offended.
You don’t answer my text message within 20 seconds—I’m offended.
You don’t include a smiley emoji in your text message reply—I’m offended (hmm, maybe you would have answered my message within 20 seconds if you hadn’t been searching for the smiley emoji, LOL).
If that’s all it takes to offend us, maybe other people aren’t the problem?
Let me be clearer here. Not maybe. If we are so easily offended, then we are most likely the problem. Let that sink in, and then invite Jesus into that place.
When Jesus visited the temple in Jerusalem on the Monday of Holy Week, “The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant” (Matthew 21:14,15).
Jesus is helping people, and it offends the religious authorities. Children are happy, and it offends the religious authorities. If that’s all that it takes to offend them, maybe Jesus and the children aren’t the problem? Not maybe.
The religious authorities’ hearts were already filled with displeasure and even rage against Jesus. So any little thing he did that they didn’t like, it would just tick them off.
“They were indignant.” That means “filled with rage, super offended.”
By contrast, look at Jesus healing the underprivileged, the disabled, the sick and suffering. He could have been offended by them. “Get a job … take your meds … go see a doctor, I’m busy … get more exercise.”
But Jesus’ heart is already filled with compassion, mercy and even pleasure for those who need him. Physically, emotionally or spiritually.
Jesus isn’t easily offended, not because we’re perfect, but because his love for us is perfect. So, live in his love, and look at others with his love, and don’t be so easily offended today.
PRAYER: Jesus, I’m sorry that I’m so easily offended. You should be offended at me, actually, but you look at me with compassion and mercy. Help me look at others the same way. Amen.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: There’s actually a book called Unoffendable. I’ve read it, and it didn’t offend me. Give it a look.
