Picking the Right Battles to Fight (Matthew 17:24–27)

Scripture is clear that, for those who follow the Lord Jesus and proclaim the riches of his saving grace, causing someoffence is unavoidable. “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life” (2 Cor 2:15–16). In other words, Christians stink and only the perfume of Spirit-wrought regeneration can transform that stench into a sweet-smelling fragrance. Indeed, some offence is inevitable. But there is also some offence that can and should be avoided. There are battles that don’t need to be fought and confrontations that don’t need to be sought. In fact, when believers fail to recognize these distinction they can risk overshadowing, confusing, and distracting from the gospel itself. And it takes humility and discernment to know which are which.