Overlook a minor offense

We will seek to overlook minor offenses (Prov. 19:11).

A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense.

Overlooking a minor offense is a deliberate decision to forgive an offense and not talk about it, dwell on it, or let it grow into pent-up bitterness or anger. If you decide to drop it then drop it. Don’t become “historical” (storing up wrongs done until a later time when we pour them out in anger/frustration).

We can do this because:

• We understand we have been forgiven much (Luke 7:47)
• The offense is one that does not affect our relationship or damage God’s or the person’s reputation.

For example we may choose to overlook (forgive) a person being late for a meeting. However if it gets to the point where it is affecting our relationship with that person (i.e. it is starting to “fester” inside us) or it is hindering their reputation (“_____ is always late, you really can’t count on them”) then you probably need to talk to the person (how we do that will come in a later point).

Other passages for further study:

• Prov. 17:14
• I Peter 4:8
• Eph. 4:2
• Col 3:13

As always, I would love any feedback you may have