READ: Matthew 15:21-28

“Blessed are the peace makers: for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9

Many people can receive from God if they are able to overcome hurts and offences. You must decide that you will be someone who will not be destroyed because you are hurt. A person who does not forgive is a person who will not receive God’s mercy. If you do not forgive, God will not forgive you.

Do not be offended when something happens in the church which you were not expecting. Perhaps the preaching seems directed against you. Perhaps you think the pastor is openly confronting you from the pulpit.

One day, I had a meeting with some musicians in my church. In the course of the discussion I said to one of the musicians, “If the other group you were playing for was a part of the church I would be able to support it financially. But since it is
not part of this church, I cannot commit the church’s finances to it.” One of the musicians said to me, “Why can’t you still support our music group even if it’s not a part of the church?”

Then I decided to use the words of Jesus. I told him, “I cannot take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs.”

The meeting ended shortly after that. Little did I know that this musician had decided to leave the church! He went around telling people that I had called him a dog. How sad! I never called him a dog. I don’t see him as a dog! It is interesting there were other musicians in the same predicament but none of them took offence at what I had said. The point I’m trying to make is that everyone can choose to get offended or not!