And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. - Mark 11:25-26

    Professing Christians often lose site of this! All of us are going to fail and make mistakes many of us are going to be in different areas of learning and at times be offensive to each other. But one thing is sure, the true love of God that is shed abroad in the hearts of those who are children of Grace will always be able to forgive. Love is long-suffering it does not abandon his brother or sister in Christ when times of failure arise. Love does not keep track of any wrongs made against him. For one who is been forgiven much, they forgive much. For one who professes to be a Christian but cannot find a place to forgive and to be long-suffering to fellow sinners being brought to understanding in the grace and knowledge of Christ as God ordains the time and habitation and all of their activities, only proves they have not been forgiven. True humility will always think that they never can be offended for they are always the least of anyone. To be offended and not forgive is to say that I am better than you and you have treated me in a way that I do not deserve to be treated. And in doing so, we place ourselves above the other. 

    Peter showed this prideful arrogance when he asked the Lord how many times he had to forgive his brother. He was wanting to know where to draw the line in the sand and be justified to be offended when someone did something against him and not have to forgive him. However the Lord did not give him a line, but yet conveyed to him that the child of grace will always forgive in every instance always. 

    I have seen way too many professing Christians eat each other alive because they feel they have been wronged and offended but all the while making the issue about them. We are all sinners in need of grace and God's sovereign predestinating work is being carried out in everyone of his children of grace and they are beholden to his mercy and grace to work in them to will and to do his good pleasure. So may we be patient, long-suffering, and charitable to all of our brothers and sisters as we too are being conformed to the image of Christ.