Offense is the breeding ground for deception. If you don’t know how to deal with the offenses that come your way, you may become trapped and they could destroy you. So it’s important for us to know how to face offenses.
Yes, offences can be painful and can cause so much brokenness in our lives but the truth is, a person who cannot forgive is a person who has forgotten what they have been forgiven of. They have never really realized that they are deeply forgiven by Jesus. What He did on the Cross is a serious forgiveness stuff.
We have to forgive one another as God forgives us. That’s a command not a suggestion. Just like Jesus reminded Peter to forgive the people who sinned against him, He wants to remind us to do the same thing.
“Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven’.” (Matthew 18:21-22)
When you choose to be offended you will see your heart grow colder and colder towards God. Some offenses wound us and wounds don’t heal overnight. But if they are not properly treated they won’t heal at all. That’s why we need to choose to forgive.
John Bevere of the Messenger International calls offenses “the bait of Satan”, in fact he has a whole book by that title. Join John as he profoundly examines the deadly trap of offense.
Credits: C3 San Diego