Living Free From the Weight of OffenseSample

Roots and Weeds

During the pandemic, I tried my hand at gardening. My daughter and I planted flowers in a little box outside, but within weeks, weeds began to take over. At first, some even looked pretty — until they started choking out the life of the flowers.

That’s exactly how offense works. Hebrews 12:15 warns us about a “root of bitterness” that defiles many. Offense doesn’t stay small — it grows beneath the surface until it dominates our hearts.

Paul calls us in Colossians 3 to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, “and over all these virtues put on love” (vv. 12–14). Love is the only soil where forgiveness can grow.

Pulling weeds is messy. It requires digging deep, pulling at roots we’d rather ignore. But if we don’t, bitterness will take over. Uprooting offense isn’t easy, but it’s the only way to make room for love.

Reflection: Where have you seen the “weeds” of offense growing in your life? How can you invite Jesus to pull them up by the root?