Our tendency towards offenses is to react in our flesh. It is helpful to see our offender as God’s agent for developing the character of Jesus in us. Instead of just reacting to conflict and offense from our human perspective, what if we asked God for His perspective? God is able to use even the conflict we experience among believers to form Christ in both the offended and the offender!
Imagine the change we would see if we, as the Body of Christ, had a heart for restoration toward offenders! Imagine if, instead of reacting to offenders in bitterness or pride, we allowed God to give us a heart of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. As believers, we need to walk in the awareness that we have been forgiven so much! As our eyes are opened to God’s love and forgiveness in “going to His offenders,” we will gain His heart to restore our offenders as well.