.jpg)
The Father's Business Podcast
The Father's Business Podcast
Devotional-Blessed Are Those Who Love The Irritating
Grace doesn't come naturally when we're dealing with difficult people. Those irritating individuals in our lives—the ones we sometimes call "grace growers"—test our patience and challenge our spiritual maturity in profound ways.
This devotional explores a transformative biblical truth: our ability to love the irritating people around us directly reflects our love for God. Drawing from 1 John, we're confronted with the challenging reality that "anyone who does not love a brother or sister whom they have seen cannot possibly love God whom they have never seen." This teaching invites us to examine how we respond when offended, annoyed, or injured by others. Ready to transform your difficult relationships? Listen now and discover biblical wisdom.
The Father's Business was founded by Sylvia Gunter to encourage people to a deeper relationship with God. Thank you for listening to this devotional. Blessed are those who love. The irritating isn't in the Bible, but it feels like it should be, because each of us have those people in our lives that I often refer to as grace growers. When tests come through, those who irritate me, I have to ask myself am I loving God by loving them? Because according to 1 John, if I'm not loving them, I'm not loving God. It's repeated many times in his book. For example, it says in 1 John, 4, 20 and 21, if someone claims I love God but hates his brother or sister, then he is a liar. Anyone who does not love a brother or sister whom he has seen cannot possibly love God whom he has never seen. God gives us a clear command that all who love God must also love other Christians.
Speaker 1:Offense is the act of provoking, annoying, irritating or causing pain or injury. It is also the reaction the offense produces, like indignation, resentment or anger, which can lead to a breach in a relationship. When someone sins against us, our flesh rises up and demands retribution, but the way of grace must watch over our hearts, guard our mouths and release the offender. The writer of Proverbs urges us to respond to offenses by giving evidence of the grace of God. Think about the last time that you were offended or that irritating person that you have in your life right now, and ask God to reveal to you how you respond in those situations. Proverbs 19.11 says A man's wisdom gives him patience. It is to his glory to overlook an offense. Patience is wisdom, and wisdom lets an offense pass without responding sinfully. After all, the Bible says that love keeps no record of wrongs suffered.
Speaker 1:Proverbs 16.32 says Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. So it's better to be patient. A spirit-controlled response wins battles. Proverbs 18, 19 says An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city. And disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. A hostile relationship is hard to win back.
Speaker 1:Contention separates people into opposite sides. Jesus died to break down the dividing walls. Proverbs 21, 23 says he who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. When our unguarded mouth gives a vent to our unhealed heart, we unleash words that hurt others deeply. Proverbs 22, 24, and 25 says do not make friends with a hot-tempered man. Do not associate with one easily angered or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared. So we're encouraged to not take personally the anger of angry people or you will find yourself reacting to the same in the same destructive way.
Speaker 1:Ecclesiastes 10.4 says Calmness can lay to rest great errors or offenses. A quiet spirit will overcome anger and turn aside the hurtful actions of others. Identify the great forgiveness of Jesus in each situation and relationship you find yourself in. Romans 4.25 says he was delivered over to death for our sins or it could also be translated offenses. So we overlook offenses because Jesus took our offense and bore them to the cross. Those who have been forgiven much will also forgive much.
Speaker 1:Jesus is the standard and he is the means, the power and the grace for any person or situation. He never leaves us without the power to obey his commands because he is living in us today. As Jesus asks you to lay down an offense or forgive a brother, he's not asking for you to do it in your own strength or your own will. Jesus says in John 17 26,. So as you find yourself in situations that require a bit more grace for someone that you find irritating, may you draw deeply on the love and the grace and the power of Jesus living in you. This devotional is based on Overlooking an Offense by Sylvia Gunter from Prayer Essentials for Living in His Presence, volume 1. For more information or to order your own copy, please go to wwwTheFathersBusinesscom.
