Overcoming Offences

DAILY VITAMIN
- Overcoming Offences
"So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and suddenly remember that a friend has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar and go and apologize and be reconciled to him, and then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and he drags you into court and you are thrown into a debtor's cell, for you will stay there until you have paid the last penny" (Matthew 5:23-26 TLB)
      We must be wiser than the enemy, for we are not ignorant of his devices. He is called the accuser of the brethren for a reason, and he will prosecute any offense incongruent with the standard of the Word until he can granulate the offenders to nothingness. The scripture says that offenses are inevitable but woe to the man who causes others to drown in its bitterness (Luke 17:1).
      Our opening scripture tells us that when we offend people without any attempt or intention of making things right, we give the devil (man's ultimate enemy) the breeding ground to take up a case against us, using this wrong deed as an alibi to keep attacking us. Little wonder why Paul tells us not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Once you have offended someone, ask forgiveness of God, and then ask forgiveness of them.
      A man who pursues peace is always ten steps ahead of the devil. But a man who desists from it is still in spiritual darkness (1 John 2:11). So, even when we have an eternal advocate in Christ, we are told to "try to stay out of all quarrels and seek to live a clean holy life, for one who is not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that not one of you will fail to find God's best blessings. Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives" (Hebrew 12:14-15 TLB). The devil can only successfully plow on a field filled with the weeds of bitterness and discord. So, give him no place. Quench it everywhere it rises- whether in you or against you.
      1 Corinthians 13 teaches us of the nature of love. When that is active in us, the acts of love will come naturally. Thus, stir up this nature of love within you; for only by it would we overcome the crave to offend others. All the promises of the Law will come through for you because of what Christ has done (Matthew 5:17), but by becoming a source of offence, you implicate yourself to be judged by the same law (Matthew 5:22). Hence, live as a peacemaker - show your identity as a son of God (Matthew 5:9); and whether you were offended or you offended, do your part to mend the 'bridge' - for this is God's will for you. "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18).

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I thank you because you reveal truth to us so as to rescue us from destruction. I ask that you empower me by your Spirit to make amends in every way I may have offended others, and to live peaceably with those that have offended me. Thank you Lord for doing this, in Jesus Name. Amen.