THE WORD OF GOD SAYS

In a world often marked by divisiveness and discord, the topic of offense is both prevalent and relevant. Our modern lives, shaped by diverse perspectives and constant communication, present ample opportunities for our feelings to be hurt, our souls to be wounded, and our beliefs challenged. However, within the timeless pages of the Bible, we discover an invaluable roadmap to not only overcome offense but also to replace it with the transformative power of love.

Welcome to Jonke Ministries, where we embark on a profound exploration of Biblical wisdom and practical guidance on the art of avoiding offense and embracing love. At the core of our discussions is the concept of forgiveness, where we are called to willingly, readily, and freely extend our grace to others, just as God has done for us. In an era where grudges and resentment can threaten our relationships, this message serves as a beacon of hope and reconciliation.

As we navigate the complexities of modern life, these scriptures serve as a foundation for our discussions, offering a roadmap to navigate offense and to foster love, reconciliation, and understanding. This website aims to be your guide in aligning your actions and behavior with the timeless wisdom found in the Word of God, ensuring that love, not offense, is the prevailing force in your life and interactions.

The following Scriptures provide us with timeless teachings, relevant to the complexities of our contemporary world, and we’ve organized our study under four essential themes:

The Purpose Phenomenon_Offence

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Ephesians 4:32 AMP[32] Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Colossians 3:13 AMP[13] bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.

Mark 11:25 AMP[25] Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others].

Ephesians 4:31-32 AMP[31] Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. [32] Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Matthew 6:15 AMP[15] But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.

MAKE ROOM FOR EACH OTHER’S MISTAKES
Make allowances 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

SEEK HARMONY AND RESOLUTION, REMOVING ANY BARRIERS THAT MAY HINDER YOUR CONNECTION WITH GOD
“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
Matthew 5:23-24 MSG

1 Corinthians 10:13 MSG[13] No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

James 1:14 AMP[14] But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion).

Romans 6:12-14 MSG[12-14] That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you’ve been raised from the dead!—into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God.

2 Timothy 2:22-26 MSG[22-26] Run away from childish indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.

So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.
James 2:12-13 NLT

But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith].
Ephesians 5:3 AMP

BEFORE YOU GET OFFENDED, FIRST RE-EVALUATE YOUR MOTIVES—SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TO CORRECT YOU IN LOVE AND THEN YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO SWALLOW THE TRUTH
Jesus answered, “You’ve come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs—and for free.
John 6:26 MSG

[23] But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant speculations [useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels.
2 Timothy 2:23 AMP

CHOOSE GOD’S MERCY INSTEAD OF TAKING OFFENCE
“I’d rather be punished by God, whose mercy is great, than fall into human hands.”
2 Samuel 24:14 MSG

THE NASTY SURPRISE FOR THE ONE WHO KEEPS ON OFFENDING OTHERS
If you’re dumb enough to call attention to yourself by offending people and making rude gestures, don’t be surprised if someone bloodies your nose. Churned milk turns into butter; riled emotions turn into fist fights.
Proverbs 30:32-33 MSG

LEAVE MATTERS IN GOD’S HANDS[17-19] Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.” [20-21] Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
Romans 12:17-21 MSG

LET LOVE WIN EVERYTIME!
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 NIV[1] If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. [3] If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. [4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. [8] Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Proverbs 3:3-4 MSG
Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 MSG
Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don’t need me to tell you what to do. You’re God -taught in these matters. Just love one another!

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