@AYENCO 5 October 2021 more from that month

REFUSING THE OFFENSE BAIT TEXT: 1Samuel 1:7 –“And as he did so year by year, when she went to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her, therefore she wept, and did not eat.” Hannah may be barren but, her spiritual life wasn’t. Her bareness did not stop her from going to God’s house. The family made it a custom to be there to sacrifice to the Lord annually, and she wasn’t about to miss it for anyone and anything. Right there in the house of God, Satan followed closely at her tail to ensure that she missed out of God’s blessings for her by making her offended. Nothing stops us from God’s intended blessings like bitterness and anger. It is a blindfold to seeing what God has for us. Beloved of God, don’t you ever assume that Satan regards anywhere too sacred to enter. *“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them."* (Job 1:6) If he went to God’s presence, don’t you think he comes to church? When God asked him where he was coming from, his reply was: *"From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”* Mind you, he isn’t just walking aimlessly. Peter told us that our *"adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”* (1Peter 5:8) Because of the presence of Satan, insignificant things like an usher directing you to a seat may become offensive; the preacher’s accent, dress sense, or poor command of language can so put you off that you become deaf to the Word of God to you. Brigham Young said that, *“He who takes offense when offense was not intended is a fool, yet he who takes offense when offense is intended is an even greater fool for he has succumbed to the will of his adversary.”* Martha was offended that Jesus delayed coming until her brother had been dead and buried- if she had shut her heart to Jesus, and ordered Him to leave, she would have missed out on the miracle of the century- the resurrection to life of Lazarus from the grave. We miss out of God’s blessings when we hold on to grudges and anger especially in the church. That is why we come to the giver of life, and leave half dead. People will continue to hurt one another until thy kingdom come however, we can choose to let go and choose not to miss out on God’s best for us. Hannah was provoked sore, to the point of crying and losing appetite for food yet, she was determined to not lose out on God’s package for her that year. In spite of her sorrow and hurt, she staggered with the little strength left to meet with God. Have you been so offended at church that you feel too weak to pray, too discouraged to do service to God, and too frustrated to even go to church? Look away from the perceived enemy and see the real culprit- Satan; his greatest desire is to see you miss out on God’s package for you. *LET US PRAY: Father, I release myself from the yokes of offense and anger…* *TODAY’S QUOTE:* *“Individuals who deliberately decide not to take offense lead happier, more productive lives.” – Lloyd Newell*