Hello
Very few of us experience life without being offended by someone. How we respond to it could be the difference between life and death; love and pride. Consider today’s Holy Nougat
“Whoever covers up an offense seeks love. Whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9 TLV
Now this one is a hard pill for many of us. For it not only refers to the offender, but more so the offended. It is the offended who would need to dismiss what was inflicted upon them, whether intentionally or not.? And while we may not view it as a quest for Love we can relate. For Love covers a multitude of sins.
So, if we follow that line of thought to its practical – and perhaps even visible – conclusion; we may extrapolate a very powerful thought. Jesus, Who IS Love, also SOUGHT our love; for His death, and more so, His final words on the Cross included a plea for Our forgiveness! That was an eternity worth of offenses being covered – True Love seeking our love! Isn’t that awesome and amazing all rolled into one?
Now we recognize that there is the human side to the saga. And as one who has harbored offenses, I dare say, one of the greatest temptations in those seasons is to share that pain with another. Usually for ‘vindication’. The thing is, we often hope (deep down) that either our truth will celebrate our long suffering; or sever a relationship. But that’s not Love’s blueprint – not in the least.
Love and pride war for dominance in our spirits EACH time someone offends us. Like each of you, I have to decide which will win the battle. Selah
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
