Offenses! Don’t They Just Make Your Blood Boil?
You wouldn’t believe what they did to me! Oh yes I would…because it happens to every human being who has ever lived. They’re called offenses…the stumbling blocks of life. They’re contentious words that hurt, insult and make you feel inferior. They can be devious actions that violate your life and steal something from you. To see how destructive offenses are, just look at this progression: An offense usually begins with a HURT. Hurt grows into ANGER. Anger provokes REVENGE. When you are determined to get even with someone, it will end in Illness, Depression or even Violence! How, then, can you navigate through offenses?
1. Envision the ultimate end of an offense. It’s usually pretty ugly and no one wins in the end.
2. Stop it before it gets out of hand. Prov. 17:14 reveals the wisdom of doing this.
3. Practice giving gentle answers. It’s amazing what Prov. 15:1 will do for the person who offended you.
4. Forgive the offender. Forgiveness is a miracle…for YOU! It releases you from a prison of anger and revenge.
5. Look within yourself. Sometimes we set ourselves up to be hurt. Change the way you think, talk and act.
6. If a person persists in hurting others, take proper steps to stop it. You may have to report it to the proper authorities. When you do this without anger and revenge, it produces righteousness! (James 1:20)
Navigating offenses can be tricky…very few are really able to do it. That’s why you need God’s help. He is the ultimate “Offense Resolver.” When you realize how much He has forgiven you, it’ll help you to forgive others. (Matt. 18:21-35)
