Has anyone offended you lately?
You're pretty sure they offended you on purpose, right?
I was offended recently. I'll skip the details, because they really don't matter. But, as is usually the case with life events that hurt my heart, God used it as a teaching tool. I'm telling you, (and I know this for a fact) that God has a two-by-four with my name on it that He uses to whack me upside the head to get my attention. After he had my attention, (my head's better now, thanks for asking) we had a little dialogue. Here's how it went...
Me: God, you know I'm offended, right? How could I not be?
God: I know. I know all about being offended.
Me: So, what do I do about it?
God: Same thing I did about it.
Me: You mean, die?
God: Yep.
Me: So just exactly how am I supposed to DO that?
God: Look, you offend me all the time. But I love you, and I know you know that. So the two ideas are NOT mutually exclusive. You love me, and I know that. You offend me at times, and I know it doesn't negate your love for me. And your offense doesn't negate my love for you. Got it?
Me: Die, huh?
God: Uh huh. Die to self. Give up your right to be offended. They hurt you. They love you. So what's your reaction going to be?
Me: Well, I probably won't do it as well as you do it, but I guess I will love them anyway.
God: Attaboy. I appreciate that you're trying. They love you and didn't mean to offend you. One of these days, we'll work on another nuance of this problem.
Me: oh-oh. Like what?
God: Like, is what they did TRULY offensive, or is your "offended" response just a little out of whack?
Me: Are you saying my "offended" response is out of whack?
God: Let's just visit the subject again next time you're feeling offended.
Me: Later is good, because that two-by-four thing you do kinda hurts.
God: I love you!
You're pretty sure they offended you on purpose, right?
I was offended recently. I'll skip the details, because they really don't matter. But, as is usually the case with life events that hurt my heart, God used it as a teaching tool. I'm telling you, (and I know this for a fact) that God has a two-by-four with my name on it that He uses to whack me upside the head to get my attention. After he had my attention, (my head's better now, thanks for asking) we had a little dialogue. Here's how it went...
Me: God, you know I'm offended, right? How could I not be?
God: I know. I know all about being offended.
Me: So, what do I do about it?
God: Same thing I did about it.
Me: You mean, die?
God: Yep.
Me: So just exactly how am I supposed to DO that?
God: Look, you offend me all the time. But I love you, and I know you know that. So the two ideas are NOT mutually exclusive. You love me, and I know that. You offend me at times, and I know it doesn't negate your love for me. And your offense doesn't negate my love for you. Got it?
Me: Die, huh?
God: Uh huh. Die to self. Give up your right to be offended. They hurt you. They love you. So what's your reaction going to be?
Me: Well, I probably won't do it as well as you do it, but I guess I will love them anyway.
God: Attaboy. I appreciate that you're trying. They love you and didn't mean to offend you. One of these days, we'll work on another nuance of this problem.
Me: oh-oh. Like what?
God: Like, is what they did TRULY offensive, or is your "offended" response just a little out of whack?
Me: Are you saying my "offended" response is out of whack?
God: Let's just visit the subject again next time you're feeling offended.
Me: Later is good, because that two-by-four thing you do kinda hurts.
God: I love you!
No comments:
Post a Comment