DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 3 April 2022 — Offences spoil relationships
DCLM Higher Everyday 3 April 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Offences spoil relationships
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TOPIC: OFFENCES SPOIL RELATIONSHIPS
BIBLE TEXT: PROVERBS 18:17-21
17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
MEMORY VERSE: “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle” (PROVERBS 18:19).
MESSAGE
“Et Tu Brute?” (And you too, Brutus?). This was an exclamation by Julius Caesar during his assassination by eight plotters, including Brutus, his friend. As the assassins attacked Caesar, the stab of Brutus was the most heart-breaking, coming from his most trusted friend. What a betrayal from a friend!
Have you been offended or betrayed by a trusted friend? It is believed that offences from a close friend hurt most, and are harder to pardon than those from mere acquaintances, and they usually destroy relationships. Offences are common phenomena in life. Our text says “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle” (Proverbs 18:19).
As a Christian youth, you must be ready to forgive anyone who offends you. The Scripture admonishes, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:13). Guard your relationships well. Avoid disagreements and offences. Remember the words of Alexander Pope: “To err is human, to forgive is divine.”
QUOTE: Guard your relationships well.
CHALLENGE: Be ready to forgive offences.
PRAYER: Help me Lord, to guard against disagreements and offences.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
