“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
EPHESIANS 5:8 (NKJV)
Earlier this year, my family and I went skiing for a little family vacation.
Each morning, I would go out early by myself until my family was ready to join me on the slopes.
Some of my favorite moments were spent on lifts with unbelievers.
You have to understand: Colorado isn’t like Texas.
There are parts of Colorado that are amazingly Christian.
There are many parts that are not.
And I enjoy being in the parts that are not.
Loving people who love you back is easy.
But loving people who hate you because you mention the name of Jesus…
Those are the ones He’s called us to.
Love isn’t really challenged when you love people who love you back.
But when you love people that don’t even know what real love looks like…
All of a sudden, they have to question:
Who are you?
Where do you come from?
And why do you live like that?
So, I’m on this gondola with these kids, just loving them, talking to them about Jesus—and they’re cussing, dropping F-bombs every other word.
And I’m not offended.
Why would I be offended?
They’re blind.
They don’t know Him.
One kid is like, “F this and F that.”
He’s just talking like that because he’s blind.
That shouldn’t offend me.
I’m a Christian. I love Jesus.
That thing is cut off from me.
But I shouldn’t be hurt by people who do it.
How can they change their mouth unless their heart changes?
And how can their heart be changed unless I love them and show them what Jesus looks like?
Out of your heart, your mouth speaks, Luke 6:45 tells us.
So why would I be offended by what a mouth is speaking when their heart’s not changed?
If you look at the world and expect them to act like Christians, you’re going to live offended your whole life. But if you realize that people are blind—and that Jesus has called you to be the light—everything changes.
This isn’t about you being an evangelist.
This is about you being a witness.
But what are you witnessing?
Are you witnessing the King of Glory?
Religion gets offended.
Relationship with Jesus doesn’t.
Relationship with Jesus realizes that people might never know Him unless we show them what He’s like.
Offense shuts down your witness.
When you get hurt and shut down, you stop bringing the love of God to people.
And souls are waiting.
People are waiting to see what Jesus looks like.
They’re waiting to see someone who is actually free.
But if the enemy can get believers offended…
If he can get believers hurt…
If he can get believers bitter…
Then suddenly, the very people who need Jesus the most don’t get to see Him.
Because we’ve allowed offense to close our hearts.
Jesus said something so clear:
By this all men will know that you are My disciples—by your love (John 13:35).
Not by how right you are.
Not by how strong your theology is.
But by your love.
Creation is groaning for you to manifest the Father.
The world is waiting to see what God looks like through a life that is completely surrendered to Him.
You are God’s child.
You are the visible image of what it looks like for somebody to be in love with God on this earth.
People might never read a Bible.
But they will read your life.
They’ll watch how you respond when someone is rude.
They’ll watch how you respond when someone hurts you.
And in those moments, you’re revealing something.
Either you’re revealing Jesus…
Or you’re revealing something else.
God didn’t call us just to survive until Heaven.
He called us to represent Heaven on the earth.
To reveal His heart.
To carry His love.
To show the world that Jesus is alive.
Challenge For Today
When you encounter someone who is rude, crude, or hostile—refuse offense. Ask God to help you see their heart the way He sees it, and respond with love that makes Jesus visible.
Prayer
Father, help me not to be offended by the world. Give me Your heart for people who don’t know You. Let me represent Jesus well today—even when it’s uncomfortable. Teach me to walk in love so the world can truly see You. Amen.
Burning for Jesus,
Todd White