MESSAGE

TOPIC: HANDLING OFFENCES

Read: Philippians 4:6-8

Memorise
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men. Acts 24:16

As long as one is still breathing, offences are bound to occur between him/her and others, but the Bible doesn’t encourage keeping records of these. The only record you are allowed to keep is like the one in Esther 6:1 , which documented the good deed of Mordecai and made the King promote him. As a child of God, you need to keep records of all good deeds done to you by people because this will help you think the best concerning them, especially when they do wrong.

Our Bible reading encourages that the thoughts and records you should keep about other people should be true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise-worthy. If someone offends you and different reasons to be bitter come to your mind, wait and ask yourself: “Has this person ever done any good thing to me or anyone around me before?”

If the answer is ‘Yes’, then dwell on the good thoughts more, but if the answer is No, then just start worshipping God and ask for the grace to let go of the offence. Gradually, you will begin to feel better and also forgive the offender. Your heart is so delicate that you need only good thoughts to preserve it. It was not designed to think evil (Proverbs 4:23 ).

Point
Has anyone offended you? Tell the fellow and forgive him/her.

Bible in One Year
Romans 8:19-39 , Psalms 82:1-8 , Psalms 83:1-18 , Psalms 84:1-12