Can We Remedy Being Miserable Offenders?
If you haven’t read the works of Elisabeth Elliot, you are missing some great encouragement. I’m not one to have a load of ‘other’ books to read. I have a few wonderful, oldie but goodies in my nightstand. Here is an excerpt from All That Was Ever Ours.
“We are indeed “miserable offenders.” We have done and left undone. We are foolish and weak and blind and self-willed and men of little faith. We run here, we run there, we form committees and attend meetings and attack the Church and its organization and its isolation and its useless machinery and its irrelevance and ineffectiveness. But all the time it stands there, holding the cross, telling us that there is forgiveness, that we have not been left to ourselves, that no matter how shocking the image that we finally see of ourselves in the light of God’s truth, God himself has done something about it all.
“He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities.” For the very things we’ve been discussing. For the things that make us moan and groan and ask, “What’s the use?”
I love this exhortation, how straight and to the point. How true that we are miserable offenders. What is the use? Well, we have the ability to forgive, to love, and if it’s at all possible to stay at peace, then we should, no matter what the method is to secure that peace without offending further, if that’s the case.
If it is your place to say “I’m sorry, please forgive me”, do it. I’ve found that it’s always in my place to do this! Or, if it calls to overlook the one who has offended you, (carrying on of course in good heart, no grudges, OUCH), pray for courage and do it. By all means take them back on the spot if they come and ask you to do so.
This is not easy for me. It’s hard for me to admit, to overlook, to be humble. I’m a miserable offender, but it’s the cross that bears that burden, and God who gives peace when I love others. Thank you Lord that we can run boldly to the throne.
And again, thank you Jesus for making a way for us not to be left as miserable offenders.
Proverbs 11:2 – When pride cometh, then cometh shame, but with the lowly is wisdom.
Proverbs 29:33 – A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Did you know you can listen daily to Elisabeth Elliot’s Gateway to Joy on the Bible Broadcasting Network? Find it HERE!
Have a blessed day in Christ,
