Insulted, demeaned, hurt, offended — friends happen. So do other people.
Sometimes they do it cheerfully and unwittingly. Other times they do it wrathfully and purposefully.
I use they. I’m not deluded, OK? We.
Just a few minutes ago I read…
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger;
and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Proverbs 19:11
Glory in passing over that offense and that hurt!
I must do that. I must glory in that. It’s hard.
The one used the l four-letter word in assaulting my integrity. The other used the same word…and dumped salt into my poverty.
What is the Christian response to offenses?
- Glory in passing over them.
- Forgive.
- Pray.
- Bless.
Sometimes, though, the first response needs to be appealing to God for the right responses. Sometimes? All the time!
Be sure to read another time I mentioned this verse…way back in 2005: Offenses.
And here’s something I wrote on forgiveness way back in 1995.