⏱ 7 min read

• Jesus warned about God’s wrath for those who offend, tempt, or lead others astray.
• Then Jesus warns of any malicious people who would hurt ‘little ones’ in any way. Let’s dig in:

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” ~ Luke 17:1-3

• We’ve shared earlier that Jesus uses ‘little ones’ to refer to children and also to disciples. Let’s look at both:
• I believe this warning from Jesus is so appropriate in this day when our children are particularly at risk of harm through the internet and social media.
• While we Christians must guard our children against temptation, they also must be aware of and work against the unfiltered messages that bombard us from every angle.

• I want to suggest two resources (I have been blessed by) that we can share with our little ones.
• I believe these can help them navigate the challenging internet space as believers.
• Remember, they are God’s precious souls and we must be deliberate with our care for them:

1. SuperBook (https://www.youtube.com/@SuperbookTV)
2. StoryKids (Link to Google App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gateway.storykids&hl=en)

• Jesus’ warning envisions an additional group, however. The “little ones” also refer to disciples, particularly new disciples.
• Indifference on the part of mature Christians toward the lifestyles and training of new believers can leave these new believers vulnerable.
• Let’s make follow-through and care for new believers a high priority in our lives. That is the Great Commission

Offences Must Certainly Come

Let me share briefly on offences now. Never forget Jesus’ statement: “Offenses will certainly come…(CSB)“ Dear friend, this is our surest prophecy: offences will come or we will certainly be offended!

• It is something we cannot avoid as we live in this world. Friends, family, church members, your spouse/beloved, and even God can offend you! (Matthew 15:21-28)
• The NLT says “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!”
• This means whenever we are offended, we are being tempted to sin. Let’s take one example:

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” ~ Genesis 4:9

Genesis 4:1-16 (kindly read) recorded the very first OFFENCE in the Bible. Let’s first explore some of the consequences of offences before we continue with how to deal with them.

• “Am I my brother’s keeper?”– As a Christian, when we start thinking selfishly, and not care for others, we’re probably offended.
• You show no concern for your brother/sister, friend, or family, life is all about you and you alone; watch it, it most likely started from an offence...
• and perhaps that’s your way of protecting yourself from future pain… but you have to let it go.

But before this, the very first fruit of offence was anger: “Cain was very angry and his face was downcast“(v5). The Lord warned Cain: “…sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

• Beloved, offences will knock on our doors daily. In our going out and our coming in, the enemy is looking for (and creating) opportunities to get us OFFENDED.
• Next thing you know, you’re becoming angry and irritated. At that point, Grace is leaving; Grace and offence cannot dwell together (Hebrews 12:15).
• Say “I refuse to be offended!”

• I need to reiterate that to maintain long-term relationships, we need to let offences go. Because as long as we are close to people, someone is bound to step on your toe.
• Ecclesiastes 7:21 says, “take no heed to all words that are spoken else you will hear your servant curse you”. In other words, don’t be easily offended.

What can we do to avoid being offended?

Psalms 119:165 states, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”

• When we love the word of God; by reading and meditating on it, it can have two positive effects on us:
• #1. We shall experience great peace because God will become the source of our peace not circumstances.
• #2. We shall not be easily offended because the Word acts like a shock absorber to your soul; it helps you to absorb the painful and hurtful words of others.

Let’s love to read the Bible and obey it, and we will not be easily offended! Let’s conclude with Jesus advice in our main text (Luke 17:3-4):

• One of the ways offences grow deep into the root of bitterness, hatred, envy and other evils is when we do not open up to the truth that we are offended.
• In 2 Samuel 13 Absalom was offended with Amnon (for raping his sister Tamar) and with King David (perhaps for not avenging Tamar).

Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman.
When King David heard all this, he was furious. And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.

• For two years, Absalom said not a word… neither good nor bad. But he was offended. He devised a plot to kill Amnon and rebelled against his own father King David.
• It’s wild o. May the Lord help us overcome this temptation of offences.
• Let us adopt Jesus’ method to help us guard against offences. Engage with the person and let them know they offended you by action A or B or by their words, etc.

• Remember, let’s love to read the Bible and obey it. It will give us peace and will be our shock absorber against offence!
• Second, don’t bottle up your hurts. Address the issue to the person as Jesus teaches us.
• Heyy… you’re blessed! Declare again: “I refuse to be offended!”