God’s design, strategy and great wisdom for overcoming offenses is LOVE. This divine wisdom is revealed in the Spirit’s prayer through apostle Paul for the Philippine church:
“I continue to pray for your love to grow and increase beyond measure, bringing you into the rich revelation of spiritual insight in all things.
This will enable you to choose the most excellent way of all—becoming pure and without offense until the unveiling of Christ.”
(Philippians 1: 9-10, TPT)
LOVE isn’t just a divine imperative to be obeyed. No! It is THE VERY FORMULA FOR THE PROSPERITY OF YOUR HEART AND SOUL AND BODY!
Love alone can protect the wellbeing or sanity of the heart and soul. This is because only love has what it takes to overcome offenses. LOVE FORGIVES!
“Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them.” (Colossians 3:13, TPT)
When God commands us to love and forgive one another, He is giving us His wisdom and design for the protection of our emotional and physical wellbeing. He asks us to draw strength and wisdom from the forgiveness we all have received from Him; to forgive AS He has forgiven us. His love for us should become the motivation for our forgiving others. We forgive others from out of the abundance of forgiveness we have received from God. Apostle Paul counsels us here:
“But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love.”
(Ephesians 4:32, TPT)
What FORGIVENESS does for us is this, it takes our FOCUS or ATTENTION away from a suffered wrong. And severs the emotional ATTACHMENT we have established with the hurt. Hence, removes the poison or sting of the offenses from our heart and soul!
LOVE COVERS OFFENSES. Love isn’t only a connector but also a Defender and a Shelter for the soul from offenses and hurts.
This is because LOVE FORGIVES and let’s go. Hence, protects the spirit and soul from the poisoning effect of UNFORGIVENESS.
Hear what the Bible says:
“Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].” (1Peter 4:8, AMP)
Love doesn’t focus on a suffered wrong. Because the wrong you focus on for long grows, becomes strong and controls your thoughts, emotions and attitudes. This is where the danger is.
In Conclusion
Let this superior understanding guide your relationships and associations with others. Your heart and soul need vital, meaningful and thriving relationships to prosper and function properly! And the wellbeing of your entire person and your outcomes in life, in turn, depend on the wellbeing of your heart and soul!
It’s my prayer that you would allow God’s wisdom protect you from offenses, and that you would remain prosperous in every aspect of your life, even as your soul prospers. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Wow, thank you sir.
This is a word in due season.
Love is the only formula for the prosperity of my heart, soul and body
God’s formula for overcoming offences is LOVE.
Love is the formula for the prosperity of my spirit, soul and body.
I forgive for my own good.
Lord help me not to focus on wrong done to me no matter how much it hurts so it doesn’t grow to control my thoughts, emotions and attitude
Thank you sir. Very timely