Rich & DawnCheré Wilkerson — Love Lies: Trapped in Offense

On a daily basis, there are opportunities to get offended. Whether it’s in the checkout line or office, or the way someone says something to us, there doesn’t fail to be something to trip us up. The question is, what to do with offense when it comes our way. Completing the “Love Lies” collection of talks with the message “Trapped in Offense,” Pastors Rich and DawnCheré breakdown how offense has the potential to ravage our relationships. They let us know that offense is actually a trap that can lead to resentment, bitterness and even hatred if left unchecked. The way we contend with offense makes all the difference in whether we take the bait or not. In order to avoid the specific pitfalls of offense the enemy has specifically planned for us, we must resolve to have a strategy when dealing with offense. The first of which is to deal with offense quickly with forgiveness before offense has a chance to take its toll. Then we must constantly remind ourselves of our identity and purpose in Christ - we find that in the word of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And any strategy in relationships must include an understanding that the fight is a spiritual one, therefore we must approach offense with our spiritual weapon of prayer. The petty misunderstandings in life do not have to become the major problems in life. Before offense has the chance to fence us into a corner, let’s go on the offensive, armed with a strategy that gives us a way out. When in doubt, we can look to the example of Jesus. He had every reason to take offense but forgave to the very end. Because of his forgiveness, we too have the power to forgive.