ResentmEnt

​You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chose to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. 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. For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity.
Colossians 3:12-14
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Lord, help me to be so filled with Your love that I become unoffendable.

I understand the dangers of this statement. It’s kind of like praying for patience. LOL It doesn’t just come down in a pretty gift basket and voila patience. No, that would be to easy. Instead what tends to happen is you wind up with what we will call opportunities to show patience. In a hurry? One kid will only be able to find the left foot of every shoe and not the right the other one can not seem to find their backpack. On the way you’re gonna hit every red light. So on and so forth.

I think that it is very important when asking for new gifts, yes they are gifts, that we count the cost and go in with open eyes.

Do I really want to become “unoffendable”? What does that even really mean to me?

Can I just let you into me Jesus time this week for a minute?

‘Father, forgive me I forgive them, completely, totally & irreparably. I release that hurt. I give up that anger. Let peace and love reign in my heart that I may leak that all over them today.’
This was the beginning of one of my journal entries this week after reading the passage above. During my devotion time Holy Spirit prompted some anger and resentment that I had held in my heart. Previously, I justified it. There was good reason, in my mind, that I was grumpy and frustrated and hurt. I began to pour out my heart to the Father to ask him to forgive me for holding on to that. Not 3 words in and I stoped.

I had allowed my anger to mask the need for the very things Christ told us to do. Forgive and love.

How am I supposed to leak the love of God on the people around me if I am walking around offended, angry and resentful?

‘Father, I ask that with all of my heart that You forgive me for allowing anger & hurt to take up space. Please, would You fill the space we cleaned with Your virtues, Your mercy, Your compassion, kindness, gentle-ness, humility, patience and love. Help me to be a reflection of You today. That’s what I want. Help me to walk it out.’

Often times I get so focused on receiving my forgiveness that forgiving others is an after thought. I do it once I receive my forgiveness. Don’t get me wrong, the important thing is to forgive, and still I believe this week the Holy Spirit has been showing and revealing to me that there is an even deeper level of forgiveness to be had.

So as I pray to become the person who is unoffendable I would be remiss if not to remind us of Jesus on the cross. He held no anger or resentment when He said ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’
 
 Father God, help us to see those around us the way You see them that we may leak Your perfect love all over them. Help us to choose mercy and grace over offense and resentment. Help us to be better reflections of Your Son today.

Love YOU sis,

Alexandria

Written by: Alexandria Brown