Most every day we read articles or hear in the news where someone is offended by something and has filed a lawsuit or taken action against a group or individual. A recent example happened this summer when Dan Cathy, CEO of Chik-Fil-A expressed his views on marriage and family values. Other examples include a number of Veteran's memorials bearing cross symbols being removed after standing for 50 or more years. Still other examples include prayer being stopped at high school sporting events... all because somebody was offended.
Stop for a moment and think about these examples. What do they all have in common?
Jesus
Hundreds of years before Jesus was even born, Isaiah foretold this would happen.
Isaiah 8:14-15
New Living Translation (NLT)
14 He will keep you safe.
But to Israel and Judah
he will be a stone that makes people stumble,
a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem
he will be a trap and a snare.
15 Many will stumble and fall,
never to rise again.
They will be snared and captured."
One of my favorite passages of the Bible is in Luke, where Mary and Joseph have taken their baby, Jesus, to the temple to dedicate him to God. They place him in the hands of Simeon, the priest, who God had told he would live until he saw the Salvation of Israel, Jesus. Immediately Simeon knew this baby was the promised Messiah. His words to Mary were not the expected, traditional blessing:
Luke 2:33-35
New Living Translation (NLT)
33 Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby's mother, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul."
Verse 35 is the one that seems to ring in my head when I read it... "the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed."
Maybe as I get older, I notice things in a different light. Whatever the case, I have never seen so many "God-haters" as I do today, people "offended" at the very thought of God. If you want to start a conversation, or shut one down, all you have to do is ask one simple question: "What do you think about Jesus?"
Take a little time today and think about what "deepest thoughts" Jesus reveals in you.
1 Peter 2:1-12
New Living Translation (NLT)
2 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.
4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests.[a] Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,
"I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced."[c]
7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,
"The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone."[d]
8 And,
"He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that makes them fall."[e]
They stumble because they do not obey God's word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[f] a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
10 "Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God's people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God's mercy."[g]
11 Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
