We have been dealing with the issue of offenses. We have to learn to handle offenses else we shoot ourselves in the foot. Forgiveness and forbearance are indispensable tools needed to keep offence out.
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Colossians 3:12-13.
In addition to being well informed about how and why offences come, we must also be aware that it can be a tool in the hand of the devil to destroy God-ordained relationships. We must realize that the devil wants us to get trapped – he wants us to stumble and perish, so we need to be vigilant and take precaution.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
We must learn to confront people to resolve issues that offend us.
“God knows we will be offended, and He knows what will work for us in these difficult situations. “It is impossible but that offences will come” (Luke 17:1). He did not look at the first offense and say, “Oh great, now what am I going to do?” Might God have something to say about how to resolve offenses? Let’s examine two passages:
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Matthew 18:15–17.
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. Luke 17:3–5
These passages are plain to understand, but they are very difficult to practice. This reconciliation requires making yourself vulnerable by saying, “I have been hurt by you.” Our pride, however, does not want to admit that to anyone. Face it—some of us love the role of the martyr. We get a sense of gratification out of self-pity, so we nurture the “pain.”
We are funny creatures. We claim to love the truth, but when there is a real issue to be dealt with we prefer, “keeping things quiet” to “truth telling.” Yet we have no real peace by letting the wound fester. Some of us like to think that we are spiritual and we can just forget the hurt or offense. When will we stop lying to ourselves? Your offended spirit will not disappear until you take steps to biblically resolve the offense and you are willing to face that individual with the problem.” Gordon Conner
Our lives have the potential of great influence but we must be careful not to limit ourselves through offenses.
CONCLUDED
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