Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.Where the spirit of division is present recognize offense has reared its ugly head. As the body of Christ, we must be on guard not to fall into, walk into, or become partakers of offense. Situations and obstacles will come and in the body and we will not always agree. Married couples do not always agree. Children born of the same two parents raised in the same household do not always agree. However, a disagreement does not negate the relationship of being married or being a part of the same family.
(Gal. 1:1-3)
In the body of Christ we have become family. Remember we are the children of God; we are the sons of God. In the body we have the same head, which is Jesus Christ. This means we look to him for all things. Jesus is the word, the word is God, the word is truth. Jesus is the truth. John 17:17-18 says we must be sanctified (set apart) in the truth. The truth will make us free. The truth is reality. The word must be the truth concerning all things in our lives. Remember there is one Holy Spirit. He leads and guides us. He resides on the inside of us. He comforts and counsels us to remain in fellowship with our father and one another.
Now, when we in the body disagree, we must look to the word and do what he instructs us to do. We must be led by Holy Spirit and not our emotions. Offense is not overtaken by prayer and/or fasting but repentance. Repentance turns us back to the word. It causes us to focus on the kingdom of God. Remember Jesus' sermon in matthew, "repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."
Offense is designed to isolate individuals from God's kingdom, causing amputations and inefficiencies in the body. We need one another and we need to be able to restore one another back to Christ for the kingdom's sake. This is what proves us to be sons of God. Our connection is vital and offense is not an option remembering we are the body and have been placed as God sees fit for the edification, comfort, and exhortation one to another.
Prayer: Heavenly father, thank you for giving us your word and your spirit to teach us, lead us, and keep us from falling into Satan’s trap of offense. We stand together boldly in unity against the plots and schemes of our enemy. We stand on your word against offense. Offense has no place within our families, within our local churches, or within the global body of Christ. Thank you for the invitation to be in your family. Thank you for your love toward us, your children. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © Dartanion & Joi Hayward Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Joi has served in a ministering capacity in every church she has attended. She has served in church administration, dance ministries, choirs, planning support, event coordination. She spearheads and supports a variety of community outreach initiatives supporting homeless shelters and orphanages.
As a fulltime Daughter of the Most High God, wife, mother, theological student, department of defense employee and member of the Body of Christ, Joi knows and believes in the importance of balance. She is focused on living a life pleasing to God, serving and supporting her husband, being the best mother to her children, accomplishing multiple levels of education, and exceeding the expectation of work assignments as an example to other working wives, mothers, and students.
