A Brother Offended

[Gerry]

Proverbs 18:19: “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”

A “brother” means a Christian “brother/sister! Contentions means: arguments. Struggles, fights, quarrels, disputes, altercations, verbal strifes, feuds, debates, etc., etc., etc. I could carry this on forever, but I am sure you see what I mean.

So when you offend a brother/sister and they say they “forgive” you, don’t count on it. For it is easy enough to forgive with your lips, or your fingertips, but true forgiveness comes from the heart.

When forgiveness come from the heart, the matter is forever put away and is not brought up again. When it comes from the finger tips it appears again and again at it’s “convenience”.

Only a born again Christian can truly forgive, because it is only through Christ that we can truly forgive. A non-Christian has the ability to hate and carry a grudge (non-forgiveness) but when a Christian forgives, the bad thing is taken out of the heart and cast away. Jesus then fills the hole in that heart with love. Thus the bad thing is gone forever and cannot come back because when it comes it finds no room because of the love in its place. LOVE is stronger than any contentions.

 

[Sharky]

I can't help but to forgive. When someone annoys me, i might be angry for a few minutes but after that, i just can't help but to forgive him. MY heart seems to soften up after a short time and its hard to bear if i didn't forgive so i'm glad i can forgive and forget.

There's also that saying i saw on my fridge once. "always forgive your enemies, nothing annoys them more."

 

[Gerry]

"always forgive your enemies, nothing annoys them more."

So true Sharky. The problem is it often seems to annoy our "brothers/sisters" as well.

 

[Susan]

Did someone offend you? If it is me I ask for forgiveness and offer it from the heart. . .and I think many others would too.

However it is very hard if not impossible to reconcile an offense that you don't know you committed. So could you please come out and say HOW you were offended?

 

[Gerry]

Originally posted by Susan
Did someone offend you? If it is me I ask for forgiveness and offer it from the heart. . .and I think many others would too.

However it is very hard if not impossible to reconcile an offense that you don't know you committed. So could you please come out and say HOW you were offended?

Ah Susan! How often I have wished I could put my arms around you and pray with you and give you assurance and peace.

Susan you have not offended me. NO ONE has offended me. Nay Susan, it is the other way around. There are many whom I have offended and many of my apologies and plea's fall on deaf ears. But that is OK! We are not reasponsible for the actions of others. We are only responsible for our own actions.

I have only loved you and and hurt inside for you, when I see you post things like "Official Slime" and such as that. Susan your are NOT slime. When you are saved and redeemed by the Blood of Jesus you are NOT slime. You are a loved and precious Child of the Living God. You are a Child of the King. You are Somebody Special. No, NOT because of anything you have done, but because of what Jesus has done. Because of Him NONE of us are slime.

Susan, change that slime thing to say: Child of the King, or Child of God, or simply Redeemed! Because Susan THAT is what you truly are. Susan you are NOT slime. And quit worrying about offending others. We can only be offended if we choose to take offense. I have resolved not to tak offense, and we all should make that resolve.

Susan, if we are born again children of God, we cannot be slime. We are God's children. So let's be grateful and happily confess this fact and not look down on what God has redeemed. OK?

Just remember how very much Jesus loves you. Rememebr that He not only DIED for us, but He SUFFERED for us, more than anyone has ever suffered or ever can.