Matthew 18:7
“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!”
It’s a dream world to think that we can live in an offense-free environment. There is no such place in human existence, and only in heaven shall such a state exist. An inevitability of life is that offense must occur, whether from your friends or your foes. Someone will cause offense and seek to lead others astray. So, I must not complain when offense comes my way or when offenses spread in my community.
However, while I cannot stop the occurrence of offense, I can choose not to be the vehicle of offense. I must never accept that. Note that there is a curse attached to the carrier of offense and if I don’t want to be cursed, then I must determine that I will not be the reason for stumbling or confusion or darkness or evil in the community. Someone had to serve as the betrayer of Jesus, but Judas did not have to be the one. He cooperated with Satan and evil filled his heart. If we cooperate with darkness, then darkness will penetrate our lives and make us commit offenses. In Christ, I can escape the inevitable.
“O Lord, it is not my portion to commit any offense, and I receive the grace to escape the inevitable, in Jesus name. Amen.”
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