Don't Take Offence

The story of the Syrophoenician woman in Matthew chapter 15 is one that every believer must take proper note of, because from this story we learn one of the most vital lessons of our Christian faith. If you carefully read the story from Verse 21, you will see that this woman approached Jesus for the healing of her daughter, because she probably had heard that Jesus performed many miracles, and healed many people. If she could get to Jesus with this issue, there was hope for a turn around, and so she sought after Him.

She finally had her opportunity as Jesus and His disciples passed by, and she took advantage and cried out for help where He could hear her. Jesus’ response was such as could throw anyone off balance - “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” It was a huge opportunity to take offence at Jesus, and lose sight of what she was seeking.

For one thing, I always wondered why she did not take offence at those words. I know that today many believers quote the words of Jesus as a revelation, that healing is the children’s bread, and not for dogs, and this is absolutely true. But pause for a minute and think about it again, if those words were spoken to you directly as you sought Jesus for your healing or the healing of a dear one, how would you have responded? The truth is that most people would have felt very bad, and taken offence at Jesus. There may be some who would even go as far as insulting Him.

However, this woman responded so gracefully, rather than being offended, she stepped up her faith to a point that it caught the attention of Jesus. The question this raises is simple; how would you have responded in this situation or how well do you deal with the opportunity to be offended? Offence will definitely puncture your faith, and cause you to sink deeper.

This woman had the choice to be offended in Jesus, and lose the opportunity to get the healing for her daughter, because of the way Jesus responded to her, or to not give in to the opportunity for offence, and get the healing. Bless God, she chose right!

There are many times that the devil subtly plants offence in your heart or provides the opportunity for offence by the actions or words of others, and the goal is simply to cut you off the flow of God’s good blessing. Unfortunately, many fall for it because they are too conscious of self. You can talk about how people treated you badly or addressed you poorly, but be careful not to allow offence to settle in your heart, because it will restrict the flow of the Blessing in your life, if not cut it off completely.

Don’t take every opportunity to be offended, rather learn to stay focused in your pursuit of the kingdom, and in faith just as the Syrophoenician woman, regardless of the devil’s attempt to get you distracted.

Take every opportunity for offence as a stepping stone to rise higher in your faith, and love walk, then you will see God’s Blessing flowing in your life effortlessly.

Shalom!