Hebrews 12:14-16 KJV — Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: [15] looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; [16] lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
We are discussing the cycle of offence and exhorting one another to follow peace with all men. We must be careful that none fall from the grace of God; failing from the grace could potentially lead to bitterness that trouble and defile many.
The truth remains that offended people offend others, hurt people hurt others; defiled people, defile others! It is important that we deal with the cycle of offense!
In Matthew 24:9-14, our Lord Jesus Christ discusses the dangerous progression of offense.
He enumerates them as;
- Lawlessness, affliction, and baseless hate leads to offense. Many will be offended in God because of the hate, affliction and pain. Unfair treatment from people you hold on high repute offends and hurt!
- Offense: This offense is a feeling of bitterness and disappointment in some one you hold in high repute. Many have become offended because of the hate and affliction. When offense is not properly dealt with, it degenerates into betrayal. People become cold and indifferent; which eventually leads to betrayal.
- Betrayal: betrayal is to choose yourself to the detriment of people you have a relationship with. Building walls to protect yourself. When people get very offended, they become quiet and indifferent! Absalom did not speak a word to his brother Ammon until the day he murdered him in cold blood. Betrayal therefore generates hate and resentment when not handled well.
- Hate: Hate is the absence of love; hate is not always loud; Absalom did not speak a word, good or bad to Ammon; hate can be very quiet). When offense graduates to hate, you become susceptible to deception.
- Deception: unresolved hate makes room for deception. Unresolved hate is the breeding ground for self conceit and deception. The more deceived a person, the more lawless they become.
- Lawlessness or iniquity: deceived people become very lawless. As the saying goes, hurt people hurt others, then the cycle continues. Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Stay blessed and commit yourself to break the cycle of offense! We can dwell together as brethren and advance the cause of Christ. Jesus is coming again and coming for a church without blemish! Get ready! Overcome to the end!
