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Taking offense to someone offended by us is like pouring gasoline on a fire.

In the US and many other countries, we live in difficult times. Much of our educational system has gone from educating students to indoctrinating them. Open debate is a thing of the past. Our young people are coached to be offended when people disagree with them. On college campuses, students tend to shut down dialogue they don’t like instead of exchanging ideas. Whoever can yell the loudest and longest wins the argument. Opinions don’t matter; power and control do.

How should Christians respond to such things? First, we recognize the gospel will always offend unbelievers. Why should we be so surprised when sinners sin? That is what they do. Jesus said we should expect persecution. If we’re not experiencing resistance, we’re probably not standing up for our faith.

Second, when someone treats us harshly because of our faith, we should remember that, but for the grace of God, we might be them. The difference is God’s goodness and grace. They still walk in darkness, whereas God has given us an underserved light.

We must resist evil, but never by becoming offended. Instead, we must follow Jesus’ example of not retaliating. If we have taken up an offense, we are fighting the powers of darkness with our own strength—and we’ll always lose the war, even when we win the argument.

We win our spiritual battles through forgiveness. We must forgive, as God has forgiven us—and with no limit.

Ask God to teach you how to fight your spiritual battles with His power.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)