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Stacey Yerian
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Posted: 11/23/2011 at 6:16am
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![The Father's Business]() |
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Overlook An Offense
Offense is the act of provoking, annoying, irritating, or causing pain or injury. It is also the feeling of reaction the offense produces, for example, indignation, resentment, or anger, which can lead to breach in a relationship. When someone sins against us, our flesh rises up and demands retribution. Offense is a hurt held onto. But the way of grace must watch over our hearts and guard our mouths and release the offender.
The writer of Proverbs urges us to respond to offenses by giving evidence of the grace of God. Read these pairs of statements from a very wise man, and ask God to reveal how you responded the last time you were offended.
Francis Frangipane has written the all-time classic message on keeping a unoffendable heart. You may view it on his website www.frangipane.org
A man's wisdom gives him patience;
It is to his glory to overlook an offense (Prov 19:11).
Patience is wisdom, and wisdom lets an offense pass by without responding sinfully. Love keeps no record of wrongs suffered.
Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city (Prov 16:32).
It is better to be patient than warlike or contentious. A Spirit-controlled response wins more battles than a warrior.
An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city,
And disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel (Prov 18:19).
An estranged relationship is hard to win back. Contention separates people into opposing sides. Jesus died to break down the dividing walls.
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger (Prov 15:1).
A sharp reply of the flesh adds fuel to the fire. Confront anger in the opposite spirit, with grace and gentleness. Humility that comes from wisdom establishes peace by not replying in kind.
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
So drop the matter before a dispute breaks out (Prov 17:14).
When the floodgate is opened by quarreling, past baggage and conflict can disastrously flood a relationship. Take disagreements through the filter of the grace of Jesus.
He who guards his mouth and his tongue
Keeps himself from calamity (Prov 21:23).
When our unguarded mouth gives vent to our own unhealed heart, we unleash words that are sure to hurt deeply.
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man,
Do not associate with one easily angered,
Or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared (Prov 22:24-25).
Don't take personally the anger of angry people, or you will find yourself reacting to them in the same destructive way.
If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post;
Calmness can lay great errors [offenses] to rest (Eccl 10:4).
A quiet spirit will overcome great anger and turn aside estrangement caused by the hurtful actions of others.
"Let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle (offense or occasion to fall) in your brother's way" (Rom 14:13). Identify the redemptive purpose of Jesus in each situation and relationship.
Our motivation or justification is not in the behavior of another person but in the great forgiveness of Jesus. We overlook offenses because Jesus took our offenses and bore them to His cross. "He was delivered over to death for our sins (offenses)" (Rom 4:25). Those who have been forgiven much will forgive much. . Find the archive of past devotionals. Type in the word Unoffendable in the box. You will be able to view part 1 and part 2 of this timely and timeless message.
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Taken from Prayer Essentials For Living In His Presence, Vol 1, p. 188-89 © 2009 by Sylvia Gunter. Available at www.thefathersbusiness.com.
An archive of past devotionals is available on the website. |
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From glory to glory,
Anastasia Lee
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Gayle Getz
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Posted: 11/23/2011 at 7:37am
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One of my sons has been called into the marketplace. In a time of sharing last week Holy Spirit gave us, "a gentle answer turns away wrath," He had an opportunity to 'get real mad', but in keeping silent he did not have any words to be sorry for-you know what i mean. And now this wisdom from Holy Spirit gives him the opportunity to say the 'right words with a gentle spirit' should this matter come up again. Thanking Father for His kindness and His gentleness as I see Him working so graciously to establish His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Love you ALL
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Shalom-nothing missing, nothing broken-Gayle
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Ron Warne
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Posted: 11/26/2011 at 6:13am
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In Matthew 18, the forgiven servant found a fellow servant who owed him a third of a years wage (so the debt was real but not much compared to what he owed the King) and demanded pay. Notice that the offended servant had the power to harm and imprison his offending brother.
When someone offends me and becomes aware of it, that person becomes vulnerable to the one he offends and the offended brother is, therefore, empowered over his offending brother. As the offended, we can do the offending brother harm (slander), we can murder (reputations) and we can imprison (make him aware that I'm upset and he isn't free to be himself around me), or I have the power to set my brother free.
The church is waiting for the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit and desires to move in true Kingdom power but is she ready for that kind of power? God evaluates our "readiness" by testing us with carnal and earthly power,such as what we do with the power of offense. If I maintain the offense, I prove that I can't be trusted with worldly power, so how can God trust me with "true riches" (Lk.16:10,11)? If power corrupts me, how can God trust me with absolute, Holy Spirit power?
bro. Ron Warne
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to him who overcomes, i will give the right to eat from the tree of life. Rv.2:7. Bro. Ron
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Topic: Overlook an Offense - By Sylvia Gunter
