Offenses hit us like fiery darts. But what if you could become unoffendable? In this episode, Brian shares a simple approach that’s changing how he’s learning to handle offenses, unpacks what it really means to forgive a debt, and explores why Scripture calls this “the glory” of what it means to be created in the image of God. Learn to say, “I can afford that.”

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See the full episode transcript below.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Becoming Unoffendable: "I Can Afford That"

Jesus Smart 180. Three minutes. One turnaround.

Hello there, friends. Welcome to the podcast.

I have something here that I've been thinking about, something that surfaced this morning with me in prayer, and that is becoming unoffendable — the process of becoming unoffendable, the freedom that brings, and the attitude that "I can afford that." Let me tell you what I mean.

Giving the Offense to God

Offenses will come at us as fiery darts. They can be small to medium scale, and they typically come through people, sometimes circumstances, but usually people. Behind them is a dark power trying to create friction in our life: discouragement, wearing us out, distracting us, getting us to veer off mission.

We're called to stay on point, on message, on time, on assignment, our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

So what do we do with these offenses? Jesus said it's impossible that offenses not come, so we're going to deal with it. But it's an opportunity, and that's the way we need to approach it. It's advantageous.

We give it to the Lord. Romans 12:19 says vengeance belongs to him. That's his lane, not ours. I've started praying it from time to time: "Lord, if you want to deal with this, go ahead. If you don't, that's fine with me too, but I'm not carrying it. It's in your hands."

What I find is that when he moves on something, he does a far better job than I can, and I stay free, and I stay in my lane.

"I Can Afford That"

"Forgive me as I forgive those indebted to me" is how Jesus taught us to pray. To forgive means to give — it's in the word. Don't insist that they pay for the offense. Luke 6:38 is a popular verse, but I encourage you to read the verses around it too. We're to forgive, we're to give to others, and we give, and it will be given to us, good measure, pressed down, shaken together.

What a gift this is in Christ. We can love because he first loved us. We can be secure in that. And he takes care of the revenge issue as necessary — nobody sets things right like Jesus.

I don't have to collect on the indebtedness of others. Say this with me: "I can afford that." Say it again: "I can afford that." What do I mean? We can live in the abundance and grace-empowerment of Christ.

When somebody becomes indebted to us through an offense or a sin, we don't have to collect on it, we don't have to worry about it. Instead, we posture ourselves to be blessed by the Lord. He takes us to higher levels.

We need to become so taken with Christ and his Kingdom that it eclipses these small, nagging things trying to nip at our heels. It's so much bigger than that.

Do you want the glory of God in your life? Proverbs 19:11 says it is the glory of God to overlook a transgression. What does that mean? I encourage you to dig deeper. The New Testament word for glory is doxa... a correct recognition, a correct understanding. The glory of God is a correct perception of his attributes, his nature.

The Old Testament word kavod, one of the Hebrew words for glory, means his weightiness, his authority. We want God to show up and throw his weight around as necessary. That's his authority.

So taken together, it's the glory of God to overlook a transgression. We maintain and cultivate a clearer perception of God, his nature, his attributes. We don't take his name in vain, we don't misrepresent him, and we learn how to move in his royal authority — carrying his weight in this world. You're going to need his weight to live the life he wants you to live in Christ.

Thanks for listening to Jesus Smart 180. Your move. Visit jesussmart.com for show notes and more.