Luke 17:1 NKJV
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

I love how Jesus taught us very real and practical things. But they are also hard truths that we need to know and manage them so that we can live a victorious Christian life.

Here in Luke 17:1, Jesus warned us of two things. One, that offenses would definitely come. Secondly, that we should not be those who bring on the offenses.

Although it is unavoidable to have offenses coming to us but we can choose not to be offended. We need to Guard our Heart with all due diligence and not allow the offenses to affect and hurt us.

Guarding our heart is not merely ignoring the offenses, brushing them off or shutting yourself off emotionally. We guard our heart with meditating on the word of God and by being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We also need to enlarge our heart, show more grace and be more forgiving to people so that we will not be easily offended.

Other than taking care not to be offended, we need to be even more watchful not to become those who go about offending others. As we guard our heart, we also need to guard what we say and what we do (Pro 4:23-27).

This doesn't mean that you have to start living your life in fear and bondage all the time, worrying if what you say or do will offend people. It's about loving people and being sensitive to their needs and feelings so that you don't be promiscuous in your words.

The more you spend time in God's presence and in reading His word, the more you will become like Him and learn to walk in love, grace and forgiveness toward people. As you keep the two most important commandments of loving God and loving people, you will have victory in the area of offenses and even be a peacemaker at all times (Matt 5:9).

Prayer:
Father, help me to guard my heart so that I will not be offended easily.
Holy Spirit, lead me and guide me to be sensitive to others so that I will not offend people. I will choose to walk in Your love, grace and forgiveness daily. Amen.

With love & blessings,
Hazel Ashley