Can I just come out and say it?
If we quit fighting with each other and converted all of our sideways energy into forward motion, I think we’d win the world to Christ. But we’ve got to love each other first. After all, they shall know us by our love!
Now let me flip the coin…
Thou shalt offend Pharisees, but don’t be offended by them!
Proverbs 19:11 says: “It is to the glory of a man to overlook an offense.” Circle that promise.
The more offenses you overlook, the more glory!
If you get offended by an offense, you quit playing offense and start playing defense. And when you get defensive, you stop leading and start reacting!
I made a decision a long time ago that I don’t play defense.
I have an advocate. His name is Jesus. And that’s who I’m accountable to. And of course, all of us need human accountability, but it’ll be to the people we’re in relationship with.
We need to submit to the righteous rebuke of a brother and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. No one is above or beyond rebuke or exhortation.
But you also need to consider the source. Is it coming from a genuine spirit of love? Or is there a critical spirit or mean spirit? Is the rebuke a love offering or tough love? Or does it derive from wrong motives?
