By Lisa S. Tarno

Proverbs says, “It is to a man’s glory to overlook an offense. In his wisdom he learns patience.” This has been one of those life verses that I have dissected and unpacked over the course of my life. As of late, my honest question to God is, “Okay….HOW does one OVERLOOK an offense?” Think about it. We are given opportunities everyday, sometimes several times a day, to be offended by someone somewhere. We live in hurried world and the lack of margin in one’s life creates an atmosphere of rudeness.

First we must understand that offense is a trap that Satan uses on everyone. The Greek word for offense is Skandalon. This translates as part of a trap that bait is attached to. “Hence the word signifies laying a trap in someone’s way. In the New Testament it often describes an entrapment used by the enemy. Offense is a tool of the devil to bring people into captivity.” ~John Bevere from The Bait of Satan

So in language we all can understand, rude and mean people are the very pawns that the enemy uses to steal our joy, rob our peace and compromise our testimony by the way in which we react. Watch yourself next time someone cuts you off in traffic, steals your parking space, gives you unjust criticism, or misjudges you in some way. It’s bait…to tempt us to become angry and spout our mouths off in an unbecoming way. The enemy wins another match!

Maybe anger is not the temptation….maybe it is resentment….or bitterness. These result in where we have had to endure criticism, judgment and mistreatment. Add one more brick to the pile of why you can’t stand someone at work, in your neighborhood or family. These are easy victories for the enemy because there is already a canvas of discord.

I often pray, “God keep my heart soft and my mind sharp!!” I don’t want bitterness and resentment to be my companions….ever! However, I don’t want to live without boundaries either..and while I do choose to forgive those who offend, I need to remember the proclivity of people and be wise in relationship with them.

So back to HOW do I OVERLOOK offense. First, I realize the strategy of offense and resolve to not be baited so easily. Second I call on God’s help to empower me to be filled with His grace and His mercy so that I can overlook offense. In my humanness, I accomplish very little but empowered by God’s supernaturalness I can do all things.