“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV)
When someone cuts you off in traffic, are you easily offended? What about with your family, spouse or co-workers? Do you often roll your eyes and sigh aloud? If so, you’re not alone.
The problem with being offended is that it promotes more offence. When people do not learn to forgive, they accumulate grudges like a hoarder collects garbage. It piles up until there is no room for joy in their lives.
Many do not even realize they are living with offence. Even worse, they feel entitled. They think it is their right to hold a grudge. I am not saying these people have not been hurt. We live in a world filled with atrocities; many times, it only seems fair to be deeply offended by what happens to us. But God has a better way.
You see, forgiveness frees you more than it frees the person who hurt you. Holding on to offence locks you in a prison of your own making. Ask God to help you take steps towards forgiveness and free yourself to experience joy and happiness again.
You can actually become “un-offendable” by learning to forgive quickly. Think about this: God doesn’t condemn you, no matter what you have done. When you meditate on how completely you are forgiven, you become more “un-offendable.” Gradually you find that you take things less personally and it becomes easier to accept others’ imperfections. Can you be “un-offendable” today?