2/2/2025
"And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men" (Acts 24:16).
So many today are mad at God because of the negative things that have happened in their lives. They want to know, where was God when this and that happened to me? This was Mary's attitude towards Jesus when Lazarus died. She said to Him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:32). Thus, blaming Lazarus' death on Jesus' presumed delay. Job did the same thing when adversity hit him. The Bible says, "Job opens his mouth in vain; he multiplies words without knowledge" (Job 35:16). Job went on and on with his ramblings, blaming God for all that happened to him. But "Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know!" (Job 38:1-5).
With this understanding, I find it concerning that in some quarters, some people still advocate expressing anger towards God. They say, "Let God know how you really feel." Yes, we are to express ourselves toward God but only through His Word because our feelings do not move God. God is only moved by faith in His Word.
Offense towards God can only be to your disadvantage. For one, it does not change who God is. Some Christians have gone to the extent of trying to hold God "hostage" by saying, "Because I didn't get this, I will not give that." Or "because this and that happened to me, I will no longer worship or serve you." Remember when the Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke the multitude from singing His praises in Luke 19, "He [Jesus] answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." In other words, your worship and service to God is only to your advantage. It does not add to God or take away from Him. He is the ALMIGHTY! Hallelujah!
Our opening text cautions us to have a conscience void of offense toward God and men. And then it says, we are to EXERCISE ourselves in this. In other words, it should be a daily commitment to live a life that is void of offense.
Another reason why we must keep our conscience clear of offense is that offense will never produce righteousness. It will not deliver to you what you have desired and will hinder your prayers from being answered. Why? Because offense weakens your faith. And in God's kingdom, faith is the only acceptable currency. Galatians 5:6 tells us that faith can only work through love. In other words, the miracles that come from faith are deliverable only through love—through a heart that is void of offense. Here's what offense does. Offense triggers unbelief, which in turn triggers a life void of testimonies, which in turn triggers offense toward God and men—it's a never-ending cycle. In Mark 6, the Bible says that because the people were offended at Jesus, their offense produced in them, unbelief. "And because of their unbelief, He[Jesus] couldn't do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them" (Mark 6:5).
Saints, be guided by these words today and keep your conscience void of offense toward God and men.
God bless you!
Faith-filled Confession:
I am a love child of a Love-God. Therefore I act at the level of who I am, knowing that I am unstoppable, invincible and excellent. Hallelujah!
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