Were you offended?

Were you offended?

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother (Matthew 18:15, RSV).

In life, we can’t do without offences. Someone is either offending you or you are offending someone. Offences come due to our differences. Each of us have different dispositions, likes and dislikes. The ways we view things differ. Our reactions to issues also differ. These factors are actually responsible for many of the collisions. But thank God that the word of God guides us as per what to do when we are offended.

Our text today starts with the clause: ‘if your brother sins against you…’ The brother could mean anyone around you. It may be your blood sibling, church member, neighbour, friend or any acquaintance. Another thing we need to notice here is that the misdeed has to be against you for you to count it as an offence. If he transgressed against someone else, you have no scriptural right to be offended.

Then the Bible says, ‘…tell him his fault…’ It didn’t say to tell everyone the wrong thing(s) we feel he has done, he’s doing and will probably continue doing! In fact the Bible emphasized it that it should be ‘between you and him alone’. It is when he doesn’t listen to you that you can now take the matter to one or two others to help resolve the problem. More often than not, people react better to a peace-oriented approach than when you act like you have been waiting for an opportunity to unleash your displeasure and anger on them.

In other words our motive for calling his attention to his fault should be for correction that is based on love, not judgment or censure. If the love of God guides our words and actions, we will get better results in our relationships as couples, brethren, families, colleagues or friends. I pray for the grace to let go of offences today. In Jesus name!

Today’s corporate prayer: O Lord, help me to work more on my faults than other’s offences. In the name of Jesus!

Feel free to share.

You can reach us: gracetodayforyou@gmail.com or +2348022958163
Grace Today….daily connection to God’s grace

BIBLE IN A YEAR: II Samuel 15 – 19

Also Read: Vengeance is God’s