“TELL IT LIKE IT IS”

If your breath stinks, would you rather have someone tell you or just talk about your stinky breath? Wouldn’t you rather have an opportunity to correct the problem? Sometimes, we do not know that we stink and have offended others because we do not take the time to tell them. As a result, walls of unforgiveness are built in our hearts. Proverbs 18:19 (ERV) says, “An insulted brother is harder to win back than a city with strong walls.”

What prohibits us from talking directly to our offenders? Anger? Bitterness? Fear? Pain? Pride? The Bible is crystal clear about how we should address offenses. Matthew 18:15 (ERV) says, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”

If someone has offended you and you are harboring unforgiveness in your heart, please take the time today to contact the offender and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love” (Ephesians 4:2 – NLT). Immediately and willingly obey the Word of GOD to demolish the walls of unforgiveness and refuse to erect another one again by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

What a mighty GOD we serve! We enter into YOUR gates with thanksgiving and into YOUR courts with praise. Thank YOU for loving me enough to show me the error of my ways. LORD JESUS, please forgive me for the iniquity of my sin of unforgiveness. Please empower me by the Holy Spirit to forgive everyone who has offended me. When you show me the individuals who I need to contact, please give me the courage to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).  Help me to be “quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]” (James 1:19 – AMP).  Please help me to be a true ambassador of JESUS CHRIST by living a life of love and forgiveness.

In the mighty name of JESUS CHRIST, we pray,

Amen.