OFFENSE KILLS!

I think about Jesus’ life in awe, you mean this guy was persecuted, prosecuted , ill-treated in front of  everyone including His disciples not only that,  one of His closest disciples, out of fear denied Him but in His last breathe what He said was “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing ” Luke 23:24 .What a man !!

Today I want to talk about forgiveness and the dangers of holding offense. Many are the times we try to justify the reason why we are holding offense ; What they did is unforgivable ! How could they ?I trusted them with that ! I did not deserve that ! 

What we fail to understand is that we are all human beings, built differently , different backgrounds with different belief systems so we are bound to mess up. What should we do ? Extend grace to one another Mathew 18:21-35 THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT ,this is the story of a servant that was forgiven of his debts by his master but couldn’t do the same for a man that owed him money and when the master learnt of his doing , he ordered his guards to torture the servant until he paid of his debts. I mean this man couldn’t extend the same grace his master extended to him, How many times have you acted like the unforgiving servant? To put it into concept the unforgiving servant is me and you, the master is God and the man that owed the servant money are the people around us.

Jesus calls us to love one another just as He loves us! John 13:34 this was not a request but a command, part of loving one another is forgiving each other How Many Times? SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN times Mathew 18:21-22 DOES IT MEAN WE SHOULD COUNT HOW MANY TIMES WE’VE  FORGIVEN THE PEOPLE AROUND US? No it means that we should forgive each other until we loose count. My brothers and sisters GRACE IS A HEART POSTURE!! and yes, we should forgive them even if they don’t ask for it, forgiveness is a form of worship to God.

What happens if we hold offense :

• We backslide – when you hold so much bitterness you lack space for what is right in your heart.
• You Sin -Mathew 6:14-15  a person who doesn’t forgive others will not be forgiven by God , remember the parable of the unforgiving servant. Holding offense is a sin .

What should you do so as to not hold offense, GUARD YOUR HEART!! Proverbs 4:23 Above all things guard your heart, for everything flows from it . To obey Jesus’ command of loving one another , please guard your  heart that is where love comes from , guard your source of Joy.

Now as I come to the end of this blog, I want to pray for peace in your heart and some form of rest and when you find yourself in a temptation of unforgiveness may the Joy of the Lord be your strength. Amen.