If The Truth Offends You…

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! (Matthew 18:7)

Thought For Today:
There is often confusion between personal offenses and spiritual guidance or correction. Offenses are more like an attack against someone. They can be stumbling blocks in another's pathway. Some folks, when corrected or rebuked, may feel it's an offense or a stumbling block.  But spiritual corrections and spiritual rebukes are designed to build you and strengthen you in truth, whereas offenses are designed to tear you down. Peter said of Jesus, " but unto them which be disobedient... a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed" (1 Peter 2:7-8).  Paul said of Him, "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block..." (1 Corinthians 1:23).  Because Jesus often tried to correct the religious, they saw Him as being offensive to their teachings. They felt that He was attacking them, and so they saw Him as a stumbling block.  Some people are offended by the truth because they are complacent. When a person is satisfied and set in their ways or with where they are in Christ, any request of them, correction of them, or rebuke for them to change is seen as an offense by them.  If we lack spiritual knowledge, it is easy to be offended by the truth.  If I make you stumble or offend you for my own selfish ways, I'm wrong, and God will deal with me.  But if you get offended because of the truth, judge ye (See also John 6:53-71).