Offensive Free

We understand when we offend someone we repent and receive God's forgiveness. As He directs, we extend restoration so we can be in right relationship with our brothers and sisters.

But what if we are the offended party? Someone took advantage of your kindness. Spoke evil about you or your family or gossiped about your weakness. Ignored you when you try to invite him or her for dinner.

Then later they seek you out not so much to ask you for forgiveness, but to say they forgive you for the wrong you done to them! You stand their shocked and offended considering what they said or did to you.

Remember the parable of the prodigal son? The older brother was offended when his younger brother demanded his share of the inheritance from the father (usually an inheritance is passed along when the person dies not while they are alive). Then the younger brother squanders it on worldly pleasures. Added to the offense, he not only shows up at the front door, but the father has a homecoming party!

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ (Luke 15:28-30, NIV).

Beloved, we will be tested when we let go of offenses. And when someone who we forgave tells us we have sinned against them, we must hear what they have to say because it's possible, God may be showing us something we couldn't see when our hearts were wounded and angry.

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours'". (verse 31). The older brother is still the father's son, he's not forgotten or forsaken and the father still has an inheritance that can't be taken away from him. So why be offended?

Brothers and sisters, when confronted, rest assured what is ever is said, be true or untrue, God's heart toward you remains the same - you have nothing to lose! If anything, you can be an expression of the Father's heart to the other person - offensive free - inviting them to celebrate.