January 23, 2022
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.” Luke 17:1-2 (ESV)
” It is not an enemy who taunts me, I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion, and my close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.” Psalm 55:12-14 (NLT)
It is impossible to live this life without encountering offences! Simply put, we will be offended! What is most important is how we as Believers in Christ will respond, which is one of the most important concepts in the Word of God. How we respond to our offences in life will determine our future and destiny!
I am in the process of writing an online program. I have tried to focus on several aspects of walking in freedom and purpose. I have gone in several directions and God keeps bringing me back to the central theme of forgiveness and how we as Christians are to handle offences and live the life God has designed for us. It is a topic many attempts to avoid in Christian life! However, those who refuse to forgive are robbed of the abundant life God intends for them. Refusing to forgive festers into bitterness. The Apostle Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, that unforgiveness can be an opening for Satan to wreck our lives.
What does it mean to forgive? In The Five Languages of Apology, Dr. Gary Chapman (also the author of The Five Love Languages) simply states “to forgive means to cover, to take away; to pardon, and to be gracious to. It is important to know when we forgive, it means to lift the penalty and to pardon the offender. Remember, forgiveness is not a feeling, it is a choice. You simply make a decision to forgive. This does not mean that trust is immediately restored. “Whenever an offence has been committed towards us, we can immediately make a decision to forgive that person of the offence.
Working many years in various aspects of ministry and in biblical counseling, one of the problems I have witnessed in Christendom; many Christians are simply unable to effectively operate and flow in their calling/gifts because they have not dealt with their issues – mainly unforgiveness, which is the root of many of the issues of life. Many have unhealed hurts and wounds precipitated from the offences of their lives. It is most often not a stranger who is the offender, it is usually someone close, a family member or fellow Believer in Christ, someone you confided in, or in church, often the one delivering the sermon. The possibilities are endless.
What Are The Consequences of Refusing to Let Go of Offences, in Order
To Walk in Freedom and Purpose?
- First, there must be self-control.
Sensible people control their temper and use good common sense which makes one ‘slow to anger.’ Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit and an essential part of the Christian’s lifestyle. Uncontrolled anger is a condition of the heart. Who you are and everything you do flows from the condition of your heart. True love controls anger. James 1:19–20. - Second, as Believers in Christ, we should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Anger may be a natural response; however, our goal is to control our expression of anger and, whenever possible, we must overlook an offense.
- Third, the Word of God admonishes us to not be easily angered.
God is our example, be “slow to anger” should be our response. A “slow fuse” is the product of wisdom and love. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:5, says that love “is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” Those who are easily angered show a lack of self-control. - Fourth, God considers it a “glory” to overlook an offense. In other words, overlooking a wrong done to oneself is a sign of maturity and grace. Forgiving others is worthy of respect. It is a victory for us to forgive and to take no notice of injuries and offences!
A FORGIVING ♥ HEART: Matthew 6:12. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” How can overlooking an offence be accomplished? From a human standpoint, it is impossible. But God’s Spirit at work in the life of a Believer offers the power to forgive any wrong. Romans 3:23. We forgive because we have been forgiven, knowing that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory! In wisdom, we know what requires a response and what does not. In patience, we turn the other cheek! In love, we choose to overlook the offences which come our way.
FATHER GOD: Thank You for forgiving us, and cleansing us from all unrighteousness so we can live the abundant life with Your unprecedented favor. Help us to always walk in freedom and purpose glorifying You with our lives, in the Precious, Powerful and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen!