Scripture Reading: Luke 17:3
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Reflections: When people are offended, they hardly ever get those who offended them to know what they have done. However in his discussion on forgiveness with his disciples, Jesus proves that this attitude is equally wrong and sets the record straight by saying that ‘ If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him…’ To rebuke means to ‘express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions’, it is a verbal address to the offender. Jesus’s statement therefore implies that once you get offended, you owe it as a divine duty to first and foremost verbally draw the attention of the offender to what they have done and how you have been hurt by it. It begins a process which will allow for proper redress. This is a kingdom requirement we cannot belittle.

Prayer: Dear Lord, give me grace to always respond to the divine duty of drawing the attention of those who offend me to what they have done and how i have been hurt by their actions.

Confession: I keep myself away from nurturing bitterness towards those who offend me by letting them know verbally what they have done.