This discussion will be in parts, one will be toward God and
the other toward our fellowman. In this article, we will be considering
offences toward God and possibly how to handle them.
Friends ,
You must realize that God can offend you, and it good that we come to term with
God and get along with Him.
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me
(Matt11:6)
The background to this verse is that John the Baptist, the
forerunner of Jesus sent some of disciples to Jesus after been arrested by
Herod [matt 14:3 - 4] to enquire whether Jesus is truly the Messiah . Jesus
sent back a message through John’s disciples back to John
Mat 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
Mat 11:5 The blind receive
their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the
dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Mat 11:6 And blessed is
he, whosoever
shall not be offended in me.
The last verse “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not
be offended in me” probably was revealing what was in John the
Baptist’s heart. John was probably expecting Jesus to come to his rescue.
Probably John was probably thinking if Jesus is the Messiah, He should save him
from the hand of Herod who had imprisoned him.
But Jesus response was quite different, Jesus did not
deliver him but instead made this astonishing statement “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me” we are
now considering.
This statement of Jesus reveals that there is possibility
for people to get offended at God. The reason for their been offended could
range from one challenges to another, in which they are expecting God to
intervene and come through for them, but alas God restrained himself for reasons
best known to Him
For John, He was expecting help from Jesus, but Jesus
restrained Himself for reasons best known to Him and exhorted and admonished
John and the people that are present at the meeting
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me
The admonition is also for us today that “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me”
Reason why people can offended
1. When
deliverance does not come forth from God. Like the story we just read, John was
expecting deliverance, but none came forth for him, but Jesus was perceiving
what was going on in the heart of John, that John was already getting offended
at Him for not coming to his rescue. Jesus was telling John the blessedness of
not getting offend at Him for Blessed is He, who will not be offended. John get
rid of offence in your heart, it will bar you from the kingdom of God. Are also
offended at God for one reason or the other, let us heed the admonish of Jesus
“And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me”
2. When the
wicked are prospering, people get offended Malachi 3: 13-15
Mal 3:13 Your words have been stout against me, saith
the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much
against thee?
Mal 3:14 Ye have said, It is
vain to serve God: and what profit is it
that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the
LORD of hosts?
Mal 3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they
that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that
tempt God are even delivered.
This people in Malachi 3: 13 -15 are offended at God because
the wicked are succeeding,
But the verse did not end that way, the Lord replied these
people in Malachi 3:16- 18, In verse 18, the Lord said
Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the
righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him
not.
Ultimately, God is saying there is a time an appointed, for
Him to vindicate those who don’t get offended at Him. Also in Isaiah 50: 10 -11
Isa 50:10 Who is
among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that
walketh in darkness, and hath no light?
let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
Isa 50:11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that
compass yourselves about with sparks:
walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that
ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Verse 10 tells
admonishes us not to get offended even though darkness surround us but to wait
on God for there is an appointed time, but the latter verse tells us of the
impending danger of those who get offended at God, to device their own method
of deliverance.
Ultimately the word of Jesus will come to pass that blessed
is He who is not offended in Him.
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