April 29, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Luke - When Offences Come
Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Are you a person easily offended? Our text tells us that offences will come, they will happen. The word offence means to put a stumbling block in someones path, it means to make occasion for someone to fall spiritually.
In our modern world today, it seems everyone is easily offended. They get their feelings hurt because someone disagrees with them. That is not what this scripture is talking about.
People today are offended because someone disagrees with them and their ideology or manner of thought or because someone does not conform to their way of thinking.
Everyone is welcome to their own beliefs; the offence comes when they expect others to believe like they do. If others do not believe like they do then they become offended. You are welcome to believe what you wish, you are not welcome to force me to believe what you believe.
Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
People can offend people; the Lord tells us to expect it. But, woe to those who bring such offences in effort to cause others to fall aways from the Lord.
Our Lord takes it a step further in Matthew when He talks about offending children.
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Many children have been and are offended in this world. They are taught to reject Christ, and to embrace things that are ugly and abusive. Some are offended mentally, physically, sexually, emotionally, morally and socially. These things are wrong in the sight of God.
I personally know people who curse and abuse their children without any thought of the consequences. God says it were better that a millstone, a two ton grinding stone, were hung around their neck and they were cast into the sea.
Offences also come when one does not understand God’s word.
Young and or shallow Christians can be offended because of God’s word and how they are treated for believing in Jesus.
Matthew 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
In my life, I have received ridicule, slander, belittlement, and have been accused of being too hard simply for believing God’s word and the fullness of it. The offences comes when the above mentioned attacks cause one to deviate from the Lord.
However, the born-gain believers have a promise of God’s blessing and God’s peace to those who endure and stand strong when offences come.
Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
