Love Unoffendedly

By Rev Dr Henry Wong

Over the years, I observed that some members have left church due to breakages in connections. It is often easy to be offended when unpleasant words are spoken unintentionally or intentionally at us. The enemy often wants to trip us and cause division and strife within the church through offenses.

Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Paul is saying that we need to love unoffendedly.
So, how do we do that?

We can start with how Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.” At the beginning of my day, I have determined that before I say anything, I am prepared to forgive. To love unoffendedly means that I am going to live a life of a forgiving person as I am forgiven.

To love unoffendedly means that I may have experienced frustration and anger because unpleasant things happened, yet I do not take offense. If I let the offenses control me, the thorn of unforgiveness will get under my skin, grow and fester, and be woven into my personality and mind, becoming part of who I am.

It is easy to love those who love us but to love those who hurt us takes a supernatural kind of strength. That is what Paul encourages us to do; to do good to those who do evil to us. 

1 Thessalonians 5:15
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

In church, we must be mindful that we could be offended by church members who are not stepping up. When we are serving God, let us not take offense at those who are not serving but instead remember that it is our honour and joy to serve others.

To love unoffendedly means an internal decision made is manifested on the external. Sometimes it could be a gift, a phone call or a prayer for the person that had offended us. It also means coming before the Lord and saying, “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I ask that you give the same mercy to this individual who hurt me.”

Prayer: Father God, fill us up each day with Your love and thanksgiving that we will not let offenses obstruct us in serving you. Let Your love overflow through us that those who encounter us will experience your love as well.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.