Charging Offenses from Others to God: Utilizing Compassion and Forgiveness

Life is full of relationships – from family and friends to coworkers and strangers. These relationships bring joy, companionship, and support. But inevitably, they also bring misunderstandings, disagreements, and offenses. When someone offends us, it's natural to feel hurt, angry, or even resentful. However, as followers of Christ, we're called to handle these situations differently. We're called to surrender our anger to Jesus and allow Him to transform our hearts with His compassion and forgiveness. Let’s talk about what that looks like.

Charge it to The Game: A Biblical Perspective

The Bible provides profound wisdom on dealing with offenses. In the Message version of Scripture, Ephesians 4:31-32 urges us: “Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you." These verses remind us that when we're hurt, we should not lash out or hold grudges, but instead, seek to forgive as God has forgiven us. This kind of forgiveness is not easy. It requires us to surrender our pain and anger to Jesus and allow His peace to fill our hearts.

Personal Reflection: Surrendering Anger to Jesus

I, too, have walked the difficult path of being upset with someone. There have been times when the hurt was so deep that anger seemed like the only response. However, I've learned that holding onto anger only keeps me in bondage. It separates me from the person who hurt me and, more importantly, from the peace of God. Now during such times, I've had to make a conscious decisions to surrender my anger to Jesus. I would pray, asking Him to wash over my heart and soften it towards those who hurt me. It wasn't an instant transformation, but a gradual one. As I continued to surrender my feelings to Jesus, I noticed a change. My heart became more compassionate and understanding, allowing me to see the other person through His eyes and not my own.

The Power of Compassion and Forgiveness

Forgiveness does not mean that we condone the offense or forget the hurt. Instead, it means we choose to let go of the anger and seek reconciliation. By charging offenses to God and allowing Him to work in our hearts, we're not only healed, but we also become instruments of His grace to others. Colossians 3:12-13 (MSG) perfectly encapsulates this process: “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you."

When we embrace compassion and forgiveness, we strengthen our relationships. Instead of abandoning one another when conflicts arise, we grow together in love and understanding. This doesn't just repair the relationship; it makes it stronger. It allows God to use us for good in each other's lives. Being hurt by someone is a painful experience, but it can also be a powerful opportunity for growth. By charging offenses to God, surrendering our anger and grief to Jesus, and allowing Him to soften our hearts, we open ourselves to the transformative power of compassion and forgiveness. This not only fosters stronger relationships in our lives but also aligns us more closely with God's will.

Remember, we're all on this journey together. The next time someone hurts you, take a moment to pray. Ask Jesus to help you let go of the anger and see the person through His eyes. You might be surprised at the healing that can take place – for both of you. Let us all learn to forgive as Christ forgave us, becoming beacons of His love and grace in a world in desperate need of both.