Good day everyone. I have to come clean on the subject of taking offense to things that negatively affect me. A few days ago I found myself getting offended over a very trivial matter and immediately got convicted by the Holy Spirit, so today’s message is for me; If someone else gets something from this message, all the more glory to God. Let’s pray.
Today’s Prayer
Father, I come before you this day on behalf of brothers and sisters everywhere to make a request. I know that Jesus had a special place in His heart for the poor. He said that the poor would always be among us. How can we as believers use our gifts and talents to help the poor in our community? Please lead us and show us the best way to bless them and meet their needs in Your name, that we might also point them to You. Some of us have been struggling with this for some time now. We put this request before you in the wonderful name of Jesus, Amen.
Let’s eat.
OVERCOMING OFFENSES
A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. – Proverbs 19:11
I have a friend who truly is the most annoying person I come in contact with on a regular basis. He is one of those people that knows everything about every subject under the sun. He and I were attending a meeting awhile back when I was doing a presentation. I had briefed him before the meeting on the content so that he wouldn’t be blind sided with any questions that might arise. Right in the middle of the presentation he started taking over as if he had done all the research and was just letting me do the up front work. I became very offended to the point where I was ready to punch him in the face when the Holy Spirit asked me, “is this how a child of God should deal with this situation?” Well I think you can guess the rest of this. I just let him do his thing and moved out of the way.
A few minutes passed. I let go of the entire situation and actually got to a place where it just didn’t matter to me anymore. An interesting thing happened a couple hours later. My friend stopped by my house, looked in said, “Glenn, I just realized that I took over your presentation and you were nice enough not to embarrass me in front of everyone. I have been doing stuff like that for years inadvertently and now realize why I do that. It goes back to my childhood when I had to compete for my parent’s attention with my younger brothers and sisters. I am so sorry I did that to you.” I nearly fell out of my seat!
Whenever we work close to another person, whether in an office or home, small offenses can become the source of great conflict. Resentment and irritability soon follow. God brings these “offenses” into our lives to develop character qualities in us. He uses individuals in our lives to accomplish his goal of making us more Christ-like. So the next time you complain or resist a habit or action from someone close to you, ask God if it has been placed there to develop some quality in you.
Pride is the root source of the need to change another person. A man’s wisdom gives him patience-to let go of little offenses. This is where spiritual maturity is seen in the day-to-day activity of life. Is there someone close to you who has some habit you really want to change? Give up that desire to the Lord. Who knows, He may even change it after you let go of the need to change it yourself.
Quote of the Day
The Shepherd does not ask of thee, faith in thy faith, but only faith in Him: and this He meant in saying, ‘Come unto me’. In light or darkness seek to do His will, and leave the work of faith to Jesus still. ~Anonymous~