Jesus said when you plow, don’t look back (Luke 9:62) and keep moving forward. But, like in Ireland, if you plow, you will hit rocks in your pasture. These rocks represent the offenses that we hit plowing through life and relationships. To be offended means: to cause someone to experience anger and/or shock because of what has been said or done to them. The question is what will you do when your plow hits these rocks? Isaiah said, to prepare God’s way in your life and those around you, you first must “remove the stones” (Is. 62:10).
How do you do it, that is, get rid of the stones that have offended you? You must pick up the rock, the offense, and in faith forgive the offender and then carry the offense out of the pasture of your mind and review it no more. Keep in mind, this is spiritual “work” and often you don’t (and more than likely won’t) “feel anything.” It’s an act of faith, like most of what God requires of us. Many times, just talking with the person who offended you will clear things up. But if not, don’t let their rocks fill your pasture. I was once ministering to an adult who had been seriously offended and didn’t want to forgive. I simply said to them, just point to the person (who offended you) in your heart and say, “I forgive you.” I was asking them to act in faith not according to what they were feeling. If you don’t, these rocks will become stumbling blocks for the rest of your life. I’ve met people who have continued to run into the same rock, or “offense,” year after year and never move past that place in their life. They refused to get it out of their pasture.
The rocks that riddled the pastures in Ireland became beautiful walls of protection for the crops and made a safe border for the sheep that would graze therein. When you hit the rocks of offense, pick them up, carry them out of your pasture and build a wall of protection and beauty. Let the rock that hindered you help you, and then you will see the harvest you plowed for bring forth its fruit. Christ will strengthen you for the task.
