People will always hurt us. This is the reality of life. Every believer ought never to forget that offences would come. People will spitefully use us and persecute us – and this will doubtless hurt us. Very much. But in all this, the counsel of God is, KEEP LOVING.

The ability to love can be severely hampered by bitterness (offence). If we think or say that it is impossible for us to love those who cause us hurt, we are merely showing our ignorance in tying hurt with bitterness. But this is not true. Bitterness is not necessarily associated with hurt. How many of us who are parents have not been severely hurt by one or two of our kids? Has this always degenerated into bitterness against such children? Not likely. What is the key issue? It is ILL-WILL. Bitterness ensues when we allow ill-will to be added to our hurt. And that IS offence.

The Bible is clear that we must forgive offences before we can receive forgiveness from God. We are even instructed to bless and pray for those causing us the pain!!! (Matthew 5:44) But how can this be, when the hurt is still burning so painfully? It is by resisting the attempt of ill-will to enter our hearts but rather to give free flow to GOODWILL which is an attribute of the love of Christ that is already spread abroad in our hearts. This is the message of the Cross. It is foolishness to those who are far from God, but to those who have received grace, it is life.

Are you a believer, and offence has already come? Have you been hurt and you are embittered? Willingly release yourself to the cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb. You can do it RIGHT NOW. Hand everything over to God and submit yourself under His loving hands. Both the hurt and the ill-will shall be washed away. It doesn’t matter the depth of the hurt.

God is love, and love covers all sins.