Being offended too easily?

 It seems like people today get offended very easily. College students are upset over "microaggressions" and having even minor differences of opinion is too much! Don't express them! The boat can't tolerate being rocked.

 "A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated." (Pro 14:17)  It's not good to get angry quickly, but it's also not good to get easily offended and upset.  Jesus, after all, didn't display hypersensitivity. As Christians, we show unity with one another by not being easily offended, and toward those outside of Christ we should have incredible patience. :) 

I refuse to have my last emotion be anger.

Ever had bad blood between a brother or sister? My end goal when I have an issue with a brother or sister is not to see them get their just desserts, but rather to work with them as effective teammates, truly able to rejoice and love one another, embracing over successes in Christ, for Christ.

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." (Rom 13:8)

When I die, even if someone detests me, I want to die having a love for them. I can never control how someone feels about me, but I can control one thing: leaving only a debt of love. No bitterness or malice will exist in heaven, and I don't want to try and bring any of that along with me. 

What if people get angry at my Christianity?

If you love people, you are going to be attacked for speaking truth, no matter how gently you speak it.  I've seen it happen, and I've been one of the aggressors myself. In Acts 7, Stephen spoke the truth, and the reaction he immediately got from those listening was, "But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse." (57)

Ever seen that happen? People refuse to listen? They ignore what you say, maybe cover their ears in a way, and attack you? In the end they attacked Stephen and,  "having fallen to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he died." (60)

Expect to be attacked, even by God's own people at times, if you speak the truth. But no matter how vicious, use it as a chance to show Christ's very character—one of mercy, pity, and grace. 

If you can't forgive or forget, pick one.

Are you good at record keeping? Have you ever had a falling out with someone? Maybe it was ages ago, but you still don't talk? Maybe it was SUPER-SERIOUS FACEBOOK OFFICIAL and you even blocked them for whatever reason and thought, "Aha, me and Mark Zuckerberg will teach 'em!?" 

God said love "keeps no record of wrongs." When will you tear up that record and start fresh? After all, the second greatest command is to, "love your neighbor as yourself.’" (1 Cor 13 & Mark 12)  

How do you react to different sins?

How do you react to different sins? I was talking to a friend about struggles we have. Sometimes, for example, we night not think a thing about a Christian sleeping around, or routinely getting wasted with friends, but someone gay, on the other hand, is not even worth bothering with! Blech!

God warns us against this habit, saying, "Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,  nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.  Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. " (1 Cor 6:9-11)

Do you let some sins slide because they're more acceptable to you? Or do you say, "Such were some of us?" Put the sin in the past, and help anyone get on target, no matter how they currently miss the mark! :)