Don't Pick It Up

I feel like I have to make this post. I don't know if I want to, but I feel like I need to.

Is there someone in your life who irritates you beyond belief? Someone at work? At home? At church? Do they offend you?

There's a lady at my church, and she often rubs people the wrong way. She's offended me before, and I questioned whether or not I should stay at the church. I took a couple weeks off, forgave her the best I could, and stayed. Things are better now, and I think I have a better understanding of her.

Sometimes she likes to sing during the collection of tithes/offerings even though she's tone deaf. This happened a couple weeks ago, and at first, I was cringing, and I wanted it to be over.

But then, I heard a couple ladies near me laughing. I was suddenly angry. How dare they laugh at her? What if she heard them? Then, I realized that I was doing the same thing. Though my laughter didn't spill over, I was laughing on the inside.

Then, God revealed to me that I wasn't really listening to her. I was listening to her with my ears, and not with God's heart. So, I took a breath, and listened again. I heard the song she had chosen. I heard how earnestly she sang the song. And no, her tone didn't get better, but the song was good. I even started singing along. She couldn't sing badly, because she was glorifying God with her song.

So, we have to learn to listen with God's heart instead of our ears. To look with His heart, instead of our eyes. To touch with His heart instead of our hands. To speak with His heart instead of our mouths.

Then, we will be less likely to take offense at the small stuff.

Which brings me to the next point of this post: offense.

People don't usually mean to give offense. Even if they do, we have a choice.

It's called taking offense for a reason. We don't have to pick it up. We don't have to take it away with us. We can just leave it right where it lands. Whether they meant to give offense or not, it is always our choice to take offense.

So, the next time that person at work/home/church bugs you, try responding with God's heart. And the next time someone offers you offense, don't take it.
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"And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes fro God's people in accordance with the will of God" (Romans 8:27).

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance" (2 Thessalonians 3:5).