Matt.11: 6 – And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Offense is simply a negative reaction to an unpleasant situation. John the Baptist was offended because he was in prison and Jesus did nothing about it.
John the Baptist was utterly loyal to Jesus. He walked a life of total self-denial. He gave everything up for his God. And now he finds himself in a cold prison.
We have no record that the Lord ever visited him there. So John is questioning and doubting. He’s probably thinking, “Was it really worth it? I lived my whole life to pave the way for the Messiah, and now I’m in prison. The kingdom hasn’t yet come.” He became offended and he lost his life in the end. When he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He is truly the messiah, Jesus responded by pointing out all the miracles that were wrought through Him.
Matt.11:4-6 -Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 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. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Over the years, I’ve watched Christians take offense with the Lord. Some of them were passionate followers of Jesus but later ended up renouncing Him. Why? Because they chose to be offended by Him. Don’t ever be offended with God because HE is ever faithful.
God can never be at fault; it is futility to be offended with your creator. If you are offended with your fellow man, God can step in but if you are now offended with God, who do you think will step in?
He is I AM; He does not change. Even if you decide not to serve Him again, it will not change who He is. When you are offended with God, you are still the one that will lose because you will incur His wrath.
Apostle Paul found himself in a similar situation with John the Baptist but he did not get offended; rather, he praised God and there was a divine intervention to set him free.
Acts 16:25-26 -And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
Instead of getting offended with God because of that situation, praise Him in the midst of that challenge and you will see His great hand of deliverance. From today, as you praise God despite that challenge, it will turn to a testimony in the name of Jesus-Amen!
God bless you
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