Matt 11:6 “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
It is so easy to get offended. When people do us wrong, how do we respond? Do we rise up in bitterness? Does that root of darkness that took hold long ago. Do we get angry. Do we turn back to God or do we allow the devil to have access to a slice of our hearts?
The Lord will bring an offense. He will bring some circumstance that will spotlight whatever is in your heart. If there is hurt, you will respond out of that hurt. If there is pain, you will respond out of that pain. If there is lust, you will respond out of that lust. If there is pride, you will respond out of that pride.
And He knows what is in your heart. He also has that way of going directly to the issue itself. John the Baptist was in Herod’s prison. Fear was inside of him, and the circumstances of his situation put a spotlight on this issue. He knew (from before birth, even) that Jesus is the Christ. Yet, his questioning of Jesus as the Coming One showed something inside of John that we all have. He was afraid. Doubt came in. He might have missed it all – or at least that’s what the devil was telling him.
His circumstances led to that place.
So, Jesus gives him the encouragement of all the miracles. The blind see. The lame walk. the lepers are cleansed. The deaf hear. The dead are raised and the poor have the gospel preached.
And, you are blessed if you are not offended because of me.
When the circumstances of your life raise up a root of darkness. Dont get offended. Dont take it out on anyone. Break that root off at the core. Take the hurt, pain, envy, lust, bitterness, anger, fear and anything else that is showing itself to the One who just showed you what’s inside.
The result is a pure heart. The result is holiness. The result is that you get closer to God.
You are blessed indeed, when you do not take offense at what Jesus is doing in your life, no matter how dark the circumstances.