Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” emphasizing living with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
Scriptures we have been looking at all year:
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
(James 1:2-4 TPT)
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!
3 For you know that when your faith is tested, it stirs up power within you to endure all things.
4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
(Ecc 3:1 ERV)
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time.
Focus for today:
Setting the Stage. (From 1 Samuel 25:1-13)
The 25th chapter opens with the announcement of the Prophet Samuel’s death. Samuel was buried at his home, Ramah, after an elaborate funeral. Afterward, David moved down to the wilderness of Maon. A wealthy man (Nabal) there had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, and it was sheep-shearing time. Nabal was married to Abigail, a sensible and beautiful woman. But Nabal, a descendant of Caleb, was vulgar and mean in all his dealings.
When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep, he sent ten of his young men to Carmel with this message for Nabal: “Peace and prosperity to you, your family, and everything you own! I am told that it is sheep-shearing time. While your shepherds stayed among us near Carmel, we never harmed them, and nothing was ever stolen from them. Ask your own men, and they will tell you this is true. So would you be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us and with your friend David.” David had been kind to Nabal’s men and livestock, and he was asking for help from a man who was clearly in a position to provide it.
When Nabal received the message, he sneered, “Who is this fellow David? Who does he think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters. Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?” David’s young men returned and told him what Nabal had said. David was immediately furious. David instructed his men to get their swords as he got his too. Then David took off with 400 of his men, leaving 200 behind to guard their equipment. David was on a seek-and-destroy mission, determined to kill every man in Nabal’s home. David went on to say, “May God strike me and kill me if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!“
What this boils down to is the fact that David got offended. David did not like Nabal’s response, and he quickly allowed his heart to slip over into offense, to the point where he was prepared to kill Nabal and every man in his household, presumably over 100 men. This does not sound like a man after God’s own heart. It does not seem like the same man who extended grace to Saul in the previous chapter. But guess what? It is. It is the same man. David, who had clearly received grace and mercy from the Lord, was ready to operate outside of God’s will because he got offended.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. The Subtle Trap of Offense.
John Bevere wrote a book entitled, “The Bait of Satan.” In the book, Bevere explains that offense is one of the most deceptive snares Satan uses to get believers out of the will of God. He argues that many people leave churches, friendships, and even marriages because of offense, often without realizing they’ve taken the enemy’s bait.
Even the most godly individuals can fall into the trap of offense, as seen in David’s drastic shift from showing mercy to Saul to seeking violent revenge against Nabal. This demonstrates how quickly our spiritual state can change when we take the bait of offense.
How this applies to you:
— Recognize that no human, including biblical heroes like Moses, David, and Paul, is perfect.
— Understand that God uses flawed people for His glory, not because of their perfection, but because of His grace.
— Our God is in the business of making holy garments from flawed material.
— Be aware of how quickly your attitude can shift when you allow offense to take root.
— Once you have a root of bitterness growing in your heart, it will be harder for you to think clearly and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit.
— Compare your reactions in different situations to gauge your vulnerability to offense.
— Regularly examine your heart for any signs of harbored offense.
2. The Flesh-Driven Response to Offense.
When David became offended, he immediately resorted to his flesh. People today would say that he was “in his feelings.” When you reach this point, you will ignore the spiritual wisdom and discernment the Holy Spirit can provide. David heard from God in the cave when God wanted him to spare Saul in chapter 24. However, in chapter 25, since he was offended, he was ready to kill everyone in Nabal’s home. This flesh-driven response showcases how offense can override our spiritual sensitivty.
How this applies to you:
— Recognize that operating in offense puts you in a carnal, rather than spiritual, mindset.
— Once you are Born-Again, your nature is God’s nature. But you don’t know how to live in the new nature Jesus provided because your mind is not renewed to align with spiritual reality.
— When you are Born-Again, and you get offended or you sin, you are not being “natural,” because you actually have a new nature. What you are being is CARNAL.
— In the New Testament, Paul said, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6).
— Understand that offense-driven actions rarely align with God’s will or character.
— Practice identifying when your responses are coming from a place of offense rather than love.
— Commit to pausing and regaining spiritual perspective when you feel offended.
— We all have moments when our humanity gets the best of us. What we can’t do is LIVE there. We must be quick to repent, receive forgiveness, forgive ourselves, and keep going.
3. The Disconnect from Love and the Holy Spirit.
Earlier in this series, I told you that you must “Refuse to violate the commandment of LOVE.” David maintained his love walk with Saul, keeping his heart supple and pliable in God’s hands, but he surely violated that commandment with Nabal. When David heard what Nabal said, his heart immediately got hard; he crossed over into offense, and his emotions took over. David was prepared to kill a man and his entire household because he got offended. You may have never pulled a sword or drawn a gun in offense, but I am sure you have allowed yourself to get offended to the point where you were operating outside of the will of God.
How this applies to you:
— Realize that holding onto offense makes it impossible to walk in true, godly love.
— Recognize that offense dulls your ability to hear and respond to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
— Commit to prioritizing your love walk and sensitivity to the Spirit over your right to be offended. In other words, even when you feel like you have the RIGHT to be offended, don’t take the bait!
— Practice forgiveness as a key strategy to maintain your connection with God’s love and leading.
— Remember that God chooses to use you for His glory despite your flaws and imperfections. So, as a recipient of grace, become a conduit of grace.
4. The Open Door to Satan and How to Close It!
Offense can serve as an entry point for the enemy in our lives. As John Bevere points out in “The Bait of Satan,” offense is a strategic tool used by the enemy to derail believers.
How this applies to you:
— Be aware that getting offended can open spiritual doors you don’t want to be opened.
— Recognize offense as a violation of the commandment of love.
— Understand that God’s grace gives you the power to control your reactions.
— Practice closing the door to the enemy by quickly addressing and releasing offense.
— Remember that staying offended keeps you operating outside of God’s will.
— Remain open to God’s correction when you’ve allowed offense to control your actions.
— Recognize the voices of reason God may send to help you overcome offense.
— Commit to quick repentance and course correction when you realize you’ve taken the bait of offense.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for using me despite my flaws and imperfections.
I refuse to take the bait of Satan by getting offended.
Your love empowers me to maintain a soft heart, even in challenging situations.
I choose to walk in love, closing the door to the enemy’s schemes.
Your Holy Spirit guides my responses, and I listen to Him, keeping me aligned with Your will.
I quickly release any offense, maintaining my connection with Your love and leading.
I am grateful for Your correction and the godly counsel You send my way.
I walk in the humility of knowing You use me for Your glory, not because of my perfection.
Your grace enables me to break free from patterns of offense and walk in Your perfect love.
I declare that as I align with Your will, GREATER IS COMING for me in every aspect of my life.
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it, and prosper!
