34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”—John 13:34-35
In this life, there will always be something to be offended about. Whether it’s a divisive news headline, a differing opinion, or a minor traffic incident, we’ll probably have a million reasons to take offense each day.
Think about this for a moment…. “Being offended is inevitable. Living offended is a choice.”
Think about the last time you took offense at something. Did it make your life better? Or did it make you bitter?
Here’s the thing: A heart filled with anger won’t produce a life filled with peace.
And as we talked about on day one, sometimes our anger is really just a result of our pride. When that happens, we need to repent and remember that Jesus didn’t call us to be right—He called us to love. That doesn’t mean we ignore God’s truth or avoid forming opinions. But it does mean that we choose to be known for our love, not for our stances.
It’s easy to think that the world has become more divided than ever, making it hard to live as unoffendable people. But there have always been reasons to take offense, and Jesus’ disciples were no exception.
Jesus chose 12 disciples from wildly different backgrounds, professions, and political views, and they loved one another. Sure, they had their disagreements—like when they argued about who would be the greatest or most important—but they stayed unified around their mission despite their differing opinions.
Matthew even points this out when he describes Jesus calling His disciples. He makes sure to note his own occupation—tax collector—and calls Simon “the Zealot.”
Simon, as a Zealot, would have been part of a group that desperately wanted to overthrow the Roman government. Meanwhile, Matthew worked for the government. Despite those very different positions, these men were friends. They served together. They ate together. They did life together.
We can learn from their example. We don’t have to agree on everything to be loving. And choosing to put aside our differences allows us to make a difference.
So, what grudges do you need to let go of?
What offenses do you need to lay down?
What anger can you release?
Every minute you spend being angry is a minute of joy and peace you lose. So it’s time to surrender. And it’s time to live with No Offense.
Pray: God, help me see others the way You do. Reveal to me any offenses or anger I need to release, and help me surrender them fully to You. I don’t want to carry offense, anger, rage, or bitterness anymore. Instead, fill me with more of Your joy, peace, and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Have you ever thought it would be cool to hear some C3 leaders discuss the daily verses, share about their lives and mostly just talk about nonsense? Of course not!…even though nobody has ever thought that we are still doing it. You can follow along with us each morning in a brand new podcast – Friday Pride Team & Trent’s Parted Hair.
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