By“So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.” - Luke 17:3 NIV
Forgiving others is hard for many of us because we meditate on our hurts instead of doing what the Bible teaches about forgiveness. To forgive is better than keeping an offense in your heart.
According to Jesus in Luke 17:1, offenses will inevitably come. Therefore, it’s not about preventing the occurrence of offenses but knowing what to do after you’re offended. And that is where we don’t usually pay attention.
In Luke 17:3, Jesus says you must rebuke anybody who sins against (offends) you. Also, in Matthew 18:15, Jesus taught that the offended (the one who’s hurt) must go and point out the offense committed by the other person. So from the two scriptures, it is clear that the offended must approach and rebuke the offender. But in our world, we want the opposite to happen. That is, we want those who offend us to come and confess their faults to us. That is not scriptural.
Let me tell you something. Some people don’t even recognize it when they offend others. Some too ignore that fact totally. So if you’re offended, you may be suffering while the other fellow is walking around not knowing that you’re hurt. Don’t keep people’s offenses in your heart. It won’t help you at all.
Are you offended by something another person said or gossip you heard? If you know who did it, put your hurt and shyness aside and rebuke the person. If he (or she) repents, forgive him (or her). But if that person doesn’t repent, involve others in the issue. However, if you don’t know the offender, choose to forgive and move on with your life. Simple!
You’re a blessing.
Devotional Code: KGD // 2022 – 016
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