A few years back, I heard a podcast about not taking offense at others. At the time, I was working on providing positive feedback when earned and not only complaining when service was poor.

Both take time, which seems to be one of our most valuable resources. After a few years of doing this (matching one for one), I transitioned to providing mostly positive reviews.

Since then, I have retired from my career as a registered nurse and started my part-time “gig”. Due to swiftly changing technical interfaces (for which I’m grateful), the learning curve can be steep when trying to obtain warp speed navigational skills. This applies to all levels of training in the workplace.

I spoke about my situation with several “millennial” friends (who are in the thick of the work force). I asked what to do with customers who “takes offense” at having to wait for a “newbie”. There is some great wisdom out there: don’t take it personal, don’t put yourself out there for others to trample on, get stronger, yell back at them, match their energy, say what you think they want to hear, let it go since you can’t change people who know better and still want to act childish or cruel. These friends all made me feel encouraged and empowered to be patient with myself as I navigate a learning curve.

In this passage, both Jesus and John the Baptist offended others. People in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth were offended at His claim to be the Messiah. King Herod’s “wife” was offended at John the Baptist. She was angered enough to have him beheaded.

Jesus and John the Baptist continued to speak the truth that God the Father had given them. They did not change who they were or what they were called to do based on offended people.

We may not know the reason or the outcome of our fiery trials. But we can rest assured that our God and Creator uses clay pots and many times “cracked” vessels so that His glory will shine through. Trust Him.- Teresa #takenooffense #takingoffense=lackoffaith

Like 7:18-30 (NET)

18 John’s disciples informed him about all these things. John called two of his disciples 19 and sent them to Jesus to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” 21 At that very time Jesus cured many people of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and granted sight to many who were blind. 22 So he answered them, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them. 23 Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” 24
When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury are in kings’ courts! 26 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,who will prepare your way before you.’ 28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.” 29 (Now all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. 30 However, the Pharisees and the experts in religious law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

Matthew 13:53-14:12 (ESV)

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

⁵³ And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, ⁵⁴ and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?⁵⁵ Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”⁵⁸ And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

The Death of John the Baptist

14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, ² and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” ³ For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,^{[a] 4} because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. ⁶ But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, ⁷ so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” ⁹ And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. ¹⁰ He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, ¹¹ and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.¹² And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

Footnotes

1. Matthew 14:3 Some manuscripts his brother’s wife