19/06/2024
RANDOM THOUGHT
The Paradox of Love and Offense is immutable in any given relationship. By loving someone it does not in any way mean you can never be offended by them nor can you not love someone because you are offended by them.
The greatest commandment governing the life of anyone who is born of the SPIRIT is to live a life of love. JESUS says "A new commandment I give unto thee, that you love one another as I have loved you. It is by this that all man shall know that you are my disciples if you love one another."
This simply means that the number one identifying characteristic of a disciple of CHRIST is not what you get up to on weekends, church membership, how well you preach, how many bible verses you know, and how close you are with Pastors. None of these privileges mean anything when love is not in your heart. Show me how much you love people and I will tell you the status of your discipleship.
Love is very important in the walk of a believer! By the way, love is not selective. You do not love someone just because of the role they play at the local church but you love them regardless of their role, just by them being amongst you.
Be that as it may, never ever think they will never offend you. Offense will come and when it does it will challenge your status of discipleship. Nothing will question how much you love a person as much as an offense from them. Life works mysteriously, it's like the deeper the love the deeper the offense. Bazalwane, offense comes, and when it does it comes in full force.
Of the 12 disciples of JESUS, the Apostles of CHRIST, Peter is the perfect display of this paradox. He loved JESUS enough to follow at a far distance but was offended enough to deny HIM 3 times. It is through this instance that we learn that when the enemy attempts to sift you as wheat, sometimes it will come packaged as an offense. When the enemy wants to really lead you astray he will lead you to a point where you are truly offended.
See, no matter how big the offense is, never allow it to bring you to a point of denial of the one you love. Offense feeds on pride and stubbornness. What can easily be brushed aside is now deemed as grounds for unfair dismissal of your relationship with your loved one. Never give an offense that much power over your life.
Relationships are not always straightforward and it is my prayer that love may always be your voice of reason even amid offense. Love does not mean you should turn a blind eye to offense but it simply means resolve it gently without finding a loophole to walk away from the relationship. Voice out your concerns and fix things.
It is not good for a believer not to be in good speaking terms with another believer. Fix things! Don't give offense power to affect your discipleship status. Love is the currency of Christianity.
GOD bless you.
