I’ve never been one to make New Years Resolutions. Seems empty and we usually deviate from them within the first few weeks. But a friend on Facebook posted something that resonated with my wife and I and I wanted to pass it along. It’s going to be a theme – or lens – we’re aiming for in 2019: Allowance.
Copied and pasted this from a Youversion devotional called “Unoffendable”
The best thing I have learned to do with offenses is this: Let them go before they happen.
And this is why
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
I love the first two words. Make allowance.
Give margin.
Provide leeway.
Leave a gap.
Create space.
The Bible is telling us to create a space in our life and in our world for other people to make mistakes. This means everyone in your life and in your world who offends you, must be let off the hook. Not should be. MUST be. Everyone. Leave some margin for the errors of other people in your life to make mistakes because God has done the same for you. While hurtful actions may offend you, don’t let a one-time offense cause you a lifetime of pain.
Let it go. And move on with your life.
When we were at our worst, Christ gave up his perfect life for our flawed ones. He has already made up His mind. He has not only forgiven our past mistakes, but our future ones too.
Your greatest opportunity to be like Jesus is when you are being offended. If you could see the full picture of what the person who has offended you has been through, you would understand what they said to you has very little to do with you and a lot more to do with the brokenness they have experienced from somebody else. This is why we have to make allowance for each other’s faults because if not, we only respond emotionally with a limited perspective on their life and ours.
Forgive them.
Forgive dad.
Forgive mom.
Forgive the teacher.
Forgive the ex boyfriend.
Forgive the ex girlfriend.
Forgive the ex spouse.
Forgive the current one.
Forgive your sibling.
Forgive your old boss.
Forgive your old friend.
Forgive the coach.
Forgive your last pastor.
Forgive the police.
Forgive the government.
Forgive a President.
Let it go. Let it go. Let it go. Give all of the above the allowance of grace extended to your life by an Almighty God.
Who do you need make allowance for?
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31â€-‬32 NIV
