Step back before you get offended

Colossians 3:12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Old habits hang around like dirty clothes. You know you have to wash them, but sometimes they just pile up. The Lord has been challenging me to go to the next level of obedience and maturity in my walk with him. I’ve changed quite a bit, I’m not who I used to be, but I’m not where God wants me to be. I have a responsibility as someone who loves the Lord to walk the talk.

Today I was challenged to drop my tendency to get offended. I was pleasantly surprised when I recognized that I was about to fall into my old habit of wanting to take the high road because I’m always right. Offense opens the doors to making irrational decisions, in the heat of the moment, which you will often regret. Offense typically leads to sin. It really is best to realize that you can’t control the actions of others, but you can control how you react.

I stopped myself from escalating the conflict. Instead, I’m taking responsibility for my behavior and stepping up to the expectations that God has for me. I can’t be a baby Christian all my life. I also know my growth isn’t possible, unless the LORD is guiding all my steps.

I choose to forgive, so I can be forgiven.

How do you handle offense? Leave your comments.