The discretion of a man deferreth his anger;
and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. Proverbs 19:11
We can participate in covering sin, in being gracious like Jesus was to the lady who was about to be stoned for being a prostitute.
That does not mean to cover sin if the Lord wants us to expose sin.
Just like any situation, as always, listen to the Holy Spirit.
There are times when we need
to sound the alarm to warn people of their sin.
There will also be times when He wants us to ignore things.
And above all things have fervent love for one another,
for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
This scripture became evident to me
when a friend gave me a vase wrapped nicely for Christmas.
She had had this vase for 20+ years and I had always liked it,
although, I have to say, I was a little put out that she gave it to me as a gift.
She was always purging and buying new things.
She is quite wealthy.
It has tiny little roses in it and when I looked more closely at the vase,
in each of the roses were clumps of dust.
She didn’t even bother to wash it first.
I mentioned this to a mutual friend who quoted the proverb above to me.
He used the NIV: it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
I never said a word to her.
I don’t think I was true to the proverb.
I know this because it still bothers me.
Although I like the vase,
the circumstances still come to mind with not good feelings.
I fail often at being like Jesus.
I know I often am not who Jesus wants me to be.
Let us be gracious to others.
Even though they may not have sinned against us,
which then, we know we are to be gracious,
when people sin toward us as we are told to forgive and love our enemies,
when they offend, when they walk in the flesh.
Our goal should be their repentance before the Lord, not before us.
And even if they don’t repent, we can show them grace and mercy
like Jesus showed us grace and mercy.
For it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance:
Or despisest thou
the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;
not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Romans 2:4
Quarreling, backbiting, keeping your heart free
from hatred and bitterness is what this is about.
We are one body and if we think of all the times Jesus forgave us,
we ought to do the same for others.
God will deal with them if they are in sin.
He may use us to help Him to expose their sin and He may not.
Some things should be overlooked and forgiven instantaneously.
Let God’s wisdom guide you and teach you
all there is to learn about overlooking offenses.
We will be judged in the same way we judge.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Matthew 7:2