This is it! YOUR post from me to you.
One of our students today (age 13) told me that her mom doesn't go to church anymore because the priest at her church told her she had a drug dependence and he apparently called her a bad name. The girl explained that her mom takes prescription pain pills for chronic back pain. Now, I'm all too aware of how stories get misconstrued when re-told, but here was a child disappointed that she no longer could attend a church due to this offense to her Mother. I have heard so many people lately tell stories of being very hurt or angered by a pastor or assistant pastor or pastor's wife.
I cannot change these offenses, I can only speak to those that have been hurt. Jesus said," And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." Luke 7:23.
Why are you blessed if you don't get offended?
Possibly because you have kept your expectations for acceptance and approval so low that you don't even notice when you are rejected or mistreated. I think of the woman that was in such need and distress that she was willing to be called a "dog" and eat the crumbs under the table as the dogs did. She was willing to accept what little grace and mercy as was falling to the floor. She didn't expect to sit at the table as a guest, she kept her head down and looked for crumbs. She is FOREVER memorialized in Scripture by her humility. Matthew 15:27. Her humble spirit gave her high esteem.
Whatever has happened to you through the years or what happen to you in the comings days, remember that Jesus Christ left heaven and came to our world. He kept his head low. He forfeited all his rights for glory and revenge. He had a higher purpose. There was a bigger picture. He wrote the book on Humility. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...Philippians 2:5-8. Please read it!
I've heard some terrible stories of what has happened to some people in the church. It makes me shudder, but I look to the Word and see that there is a remedy.
Another reason that we are blessed if we don't get offended is that we know the tactics of the enemy of our soul so well, that we fully expect a barrage of offenses to come. So when it happens, you simply raise your eyebrows a bit (because it does hurt even though you pretend it doesn't) hold back your emotions if possible and count it "all joy. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" ( temptations is translated trials or troubles) James 1:2
II Chronicles 34:27 and James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up". HE shall....Let the Lord do it in his time, he will lift you up.
One of our students today (age 13) told me that her mom doesn't go to church anymore because the priest at her church told her she had a drug dependence and he apparently called her a bad name. The girl explained that her mom takes prescription pain pills for chronic back pain. Now, I'm all too aware of how stories get misconstrued when re-told, but here was a child disappointed that she no longer could attend a church due to this offense to her Mother. I have heard so many people lately tell stories of being very hurt or angered by a pastor or assistant pastor or pastor's wife.
I cannot change these offenses, I can only speak to those that have been hurt. Jesus said," And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." Luke 7:23.
Why are you blessed if you don't get offended?
Possibly because you have kept your expectations for acceptance and approval so low that you don't even notice when you are rejected or mistreated. I think of the woman that was in such need and distress that she was willing to be called a "dog" and eat the crumbs under the table as the dogs did. She was willing to accept what little grace and mercy as was falling to the floor. She didn't expect to sit at the table as a guest, she kept her head down and looked for crumbs. She is FOREVER memorialized in Scripture by her humility. Matthew 15:27. Her humble spirit gave her high esteem.
Whatever has happened to you through the years or what happen to you in the comings days, remember that Jesus Christ left heaven and came to our world. He kept his head low. He forfeited all his rights for glory and revenge. He had a higher purpose. There was a bigger picture. He wrote the book on Humility. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...Philippians 2:5-8. Please read it!
I've heard some terrible stories of what has happened to some people in the church. It makes me shudder, but I look to the Word and see that there is a remedy.
Another reason that we are blessed if we don't get offended is that we know the tactics of the enemy of our soul so well, that we fully expect a barrage of offenses to come. So when it happens, you simply raise your eyebrows a bit (because it does hurt even though you pretend it doesn't) hold back your emotions if possible and count it "all joy. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" ( temptations is translated trials or troubles) James 1:2
II Chronicles 34:27 and James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up". HE shall....Let the Lord do it in his time, he will lift you up.
