Forgiving an Offense Reaps More Than It Appears!

Recently I experienced a slight that caused me to be offended. The details are not important, the effect that it had on me – was important. It showed me that in spite of all that I have gone through – that my flesh is not dead – I am still among the living and breathing “works in progress!”

I had to work with that spirit (for that’s what offense is) – because if I haven’t learned anything else, I have learned that offense is to me – like a match is to fire – it never profits me to hold an offense. So I did all the right things – I repented, I prayed, I read the Word – and then because it was a big one- I had to do those things all over again.

Not long after, something happened which caused me to realize how ridiculous the whole thing was and how out of character it was for me to dwell on it. I became free of the offense – able to go on without thinking about it and accepted that my dying daily was still on my schedule of things to do!

Well, wouldn’t you know, something happened that brought that offense right back, front and center, but having given God permission to deal with me, He was on top of the game – one of the scriptures in my daily devotion was the following;

” A man’s wisdom gives him patience, it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)

Once more and again, my personal Savior, personalized His conversation with me and if nothing else I knew that God loved me and He cared – cared enough to let me know that my blessing was in the lesson!

Because I wanted to share this today, I read this verse in other versions, and it gave me a whole new thought:

11 Smart people know how to hold their tongue;
their grandeur is to forgive and forget.

12 Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs;
the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.(MSG)

One of the things that is most important to me as a female who is also an administrator is not to be known as the you know, something they call dogs that starts with a “B.” In fact I have worked so hard at trying not to follow that description that I was never a really good administrator – a good administrator cannot be a people pleaser – the buck stops with you and you have to provide fair and equitable leadership that somebody is not going to like. It goes with the territory.

So what is the thought for today – that my journey is still progressive – God is still working on me, He wants me to know when the path He has me on is veering too far off and His Word brings back balance and truth – and even more is building my character into something that will enable me to better deal with life and people, enhancing my life for good, and becoming a reflection of God’s glory!

God Bless You,
Maria