5 Steps to Take When You’ve Offended Someone
1. Our goals should be to pursue peace. (Romans 14:19)
We should make it our goal to be at peace with everyone.
2. Recognize that you will offend some people.
Even the most gentile-minded, peace-pursuing people are occasionally offensive. Sometimes the person on the other side of the offense has issues that make them easily offended. Sometimes we just say or do the wrong thing. Everyone offends people some of the time.
3. Ask forgiveness and seek to rebuild trust.
Sometimes the best thing to do is just to say you are sorry. Many times people want to pass blame, make excuses, or wait for the other person to make the first move towards reconciliation. If you know a perceived offense has occurred, put your “big boy pants” on and break the ice of forgiveness. Don’t even be afraid to take the blame if it will bring peace in the end. Remember though that trust is built over time, so don’t be “offended” if it is not given to you instantly.
4. Examine your own life.
If you seem to consistently find yourself in situations where others feel offended by you; maybe the problem is you. Don’t be afraid to look at the “speck” in your own eye. Examine areas of your life where you are consistently offending others.
5. Stay true to God’s plan for your life.
While we should attempt to live at peace with everyone, we should never avoid offending people at the sacrifice of God’s plan for our life. Jesus’ best work was offensive to many. If you are obedient to God you will find it offends some (maybe many.) Don’t let that distract you from doing God’s will.
