Can I be Offended by Jesus?
Luke 7:23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.
This verse has rocked me, a Christian for 29 years, who loves my LORD with everything in me, to the very core of my being! At the pastors conference, Pastor Love brought this out in his message but the Holy Spirit illuminated it like no other verse I have ever experienced before. Why, because this verse nailed me and I am offended by Jesus? Not at all! But the very awareness that I, who have loved my Jesus, can be and truthfully am at times offended by His will for me! Taking accountability is vital to moving deeper in God. The more He is revealed, the more of us is also revealed and that can look very ugly. I've never been a surface Christian and have always welcomed His convictions. I don't like false security. This hurt!
Most Christians, like me, viewed this word offended as something that trips up or stumbles us or something that causes a divide between. It is all those things but the word is skandalizo, where we get scandal from. It, at its very root means to DISTRUST. Where I am in my life has caused me to depend and trust much more upon the LORD than ever before. Here is why I believe it has rocked me so hard. The path of Christ is difficult, challenging, at times weary, yet it leads to life. In the inner workings of my mind, I at times wonder, do I want to endure the pain of this journey Im on? Why cant I just be an average Christian and not take on such burdens? Basically, do I want to continue to walk in the direction I know God has called me too knowing life is hard along the way? I say yes, but my flesh is more reluctant and even resists such a path. The question Jesus asked me, as if He was standing in front of me then, was Do you trust Me for what I have in store for you ahead? He never asks a single question He does not know. I wasn't aware of the answer however. It was a reluctant at best yes. I felt as Peter did after the 3rd time Jesus asked him if he loved Him. Broken and exposed. Now, why am I telling you this? Because I believe there is great value in this lesson for all Christians. What came next defines God. He reminded me, Im bringing My work to pass, I just want you to trust Me. God wants to use this broken vessel and He will be glorified. Nothing I can do can bring His work to pass. I am right where He wants me. What a total joy and excitement I have now due to this revelation about myself but much more this revelation of Him. I still trust Him however my trust is going deeper now than its ever been. A broken soul is a fixed soul by the LORD. He must first break the man before He makes the man.
This verse has rocked me, a Christian for 29 years, who loves my LORD with everything in me, to the very core of my being! At the pastors conference, Pastor Love brought this out in his message but the Holy Spirit illuminated it like no other verse I have ever experienced before. Why, because this verse nailed me and I am offended by Jesus? Not at all! But the very awareness that I, who have loved my Jesus, can be and truthfully am at times offended by His will for me! Taking accountability is vital to moving deeper in God. The more He is revealed, the more of us is also revealed and that can look very ugly. I've never been a surface Christian and have always welcomed His convictions. I don't like false security. This hurt!
Most Christians, like me, viewed this word offended as something that trips up or stumbles us or something that causes a divide between. It is all those things but the word is skandalizo, where we get scandal from. It, at its very root means to DISTRUST. Where I am in my life has caused me to depend and trust much more upon the LORD than ever before. Here is why I believe it has rocked me so hard. The path of Christ is difficult, challenging, at times weary, yet it leads to life. In the inner workings of my mind, I at times wonder, do I want to endure the pain of this journey Im on? Why cant I just be an average Christian and not take on such burdens? Basically, do I want to continue to walk in the direction I know God has called me too knowing life is hard along the way? I say yes, but my flesh is more reluctant and even resists such a path. The question Jesus asked me, as if He was standing in front of me then, was Do you trust Me for what I have in store for you ahead? He never asks a single question He does not know. I wasn't aware of the answer however. It was a reluctant at best yes. I felt as Peter did after the 3rd time Jesus asked him if he loved Him. Broken and exposed. Now, why am I telling you this? Because I believe there is great value in this lesson for all Christians. What came next defines God. He reminded me, Im bringing My work to pass, I just want you to trust Me. God wants to use this broken vessel and He will be glorified. Nothing I can do can bring His work to pass. I am right where He wants me. What a total joy and excitement I have now due to this revelation about myself but much more this revelation of Him. I still trust Him however my trust is going deeper now than its ever been. A broken soul is a fixed soul by the LORD. He must first break the man before He makes the man.
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I remember one day I pulled out of the road and called my pastor and I was crying. I told him that I was broken. He was gentle guiding me to see the light again. At that time I was hopeless, questioning God why. My flesh is weak and I doubted my savior’s will, but because of the messenger God sent to me , I can see the light again. Jesus builds my faith through the guidance of his messenger. Jesus is my rock. I stumbled and was broken, but Jesus put his hands out and I reached for Him and I got up stronger than before. My faith is built upon the solid rock which is Jesus Christ my Lord.
That's exactly right. I have known for many years God plans to use you for something very big. And that is because He KNOWS you are a willing vessel that wants to be used by Him. That's all He needs. Someone who will trust Him and be willing to be used. That's been you all along. He just reminded you at the conference. I don't know exactly what it is, but I know it's big and it's reaching lots of souls. And I'm right here with you by your side to go through it together, even the possible hard parts, because He is faithful and will guide and protect that willing vessel. ❤️