Do not let the Scriptures offend you.
You see my friend,in many cases, anger will be a poison planted in you that Satan will use to fulfill his plans. That poison will pretty much resemble to a video control game that players use to control their characters.
What I want to convey is a message that will help you overcome the poisonous anger and offense that the Devil tries to plant in order for us to play his game and accomplish his plans.
In Genesis 4, we get a first hand account of offense and anger from the first two human brothers: 'Abel and Cain'. Abel was a shepherd while Cain was a soil specialist dealing with vegetarian products. One day, both the two brothers offered a sacrifice to God. Abel offered fat portions of some the first born of his flocks while Cain offered some of the fruits of the soil. God looked with favor at Abel's offerings while He did not look with favor to Cain's offering. So Cain got upset.
And this is what the Bible says about what happens next:
So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
''....Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Let's analyze some of the statements made by God to Cain:
1. First statement: 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?':
'notice that the anger of Cain is caused by the fact that God did not look favorably at his sacrifice.This passage actually shows us that not only people or earthly circumstances can irritate us but God can also irritate and offend people by His actions and His words. If you don't believe that God can irritate and offend people then have a look at the people who get upset with certain Scriptures of the Bible. Have a look at the way Jesus always got on the nerves of the Pharisees. In case you did not know: 'the word of God not only constructs but can also offend'.
In 1 Peter 2: 4-8, the Bible describes Jesus as a precious cornerstone for those who believe and as a rock offence for those refuse to believe and obey. Jesus is the cornerstone and He is described as the Word who became Flesh.
Sometimes, the Words and actions of God will construct and sometimes the Words and actions of the Lord will offend. But it all depends on whether we will believe and follow through or whether we choose not to believe and to disobey.
We see people being built by the Word everyday and we see people being offended by His Words everyday.
2. Second statement: 'If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?':
'this question reveals what was God's objective in disregarding Cain's offering. The goal was to direct Cain into doing the right thing. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16 that: 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness'.
The question is: ' do we only accept the Scriptures when they are profitable? What do we do when the Scriptures come as reproof or correction? Do we leave the Church because of a rebuking Scripture? Do we cut ties with people who quote Scriptures that we don't like?'
You see my friend, many of us have gotten to the point I call 'selection of Scripture' which is a regressive stage in our walk with the Lord where we will get along with God and people only when pampering Scriptures are quoted.
As a result we get mad when somebody talks about Hell, repentance, stewardship, Judgement Day and many very unpopular subjects in modern Church culture.
But if we believe and accept the Word sent by God then things will be fine..
3.Third statement:''But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
From this statement , we can learn the following: 'Whenever we get offended by God's Words and/or His actions, if we settle in an unrighteous attitude, we will commit a demonic action. And that's how we end up playing the game plan of the Devil.
Sometimes whenever we get offended by the Scriptures, we should attempt to foresee what Satan is trying to make us do.
The story of Cain and Abel does not end well. Cain in his anger decides to kill his brother because of God's opinion on his fruits offerings. The murder of Abel was not God's plan. It was a demonic plan.
Whenever the Scriptures offend us, let us be careful not to dwell in anger and offense because if we do, we will do the bidding of Satan.
Let us be clear, the Scriptures will not always be funny and pampering. if we recognize this fact, then we will save ourselves from a lot of bickering between brothers and sisters in Christ. And we will grow as one body. The plan of the devil is to divide us like Cain divided himself from Abel.
Lastly, whenever we react in offence caused by the Scripture , it is similar of us playing an acting role in a movie directed by Satan. Do not play his game because it might affect your destiny as it happened to Cain.
Let us do the right thing:' let us tape into love, act righteously and let us humiliate the devil and his devices aimed at dividing us'.