Devotional
When someone hurts us, our natural instinct is to focus on being right. We rehearse our arguments, gather evidence of their wrongdoing, and prepare for battle. We want to win, to prove our point, to make them see how wrong they were. But Jesus offers us a radically different approach. When He taught about handling offenses, His goal wasn’t winning arguments – it was winning people back. He understood something we often forget: the person is more valuable than the issue. This perspective shift changes everything. Instead of seeing the person who hurt us as an enemy to defeat, we begin to see them as someone created in God’s image, someone worth fighting for rather than fighting against. Instead of focusing solely on their offense, we start to see their humanity. Think about the people in your life who have wounded you. What if, instead of rehearsing their wrongs, you began to see them as God sees them? What if you looked beyond their offense to their brokenness, their pain, their need for grace? This doesn’t mean we ignore the hurt or pretend it doesn’t matter. It means we choose to value the relationship more than being right. We choose to see the person’s potential for redemption rather than just their capacity for harm. Jesus modeled this perfectly. When Peter denied Him three times, Jesus didn’t focus on winning the argument about Peter’s betrayal. Instead, He focused on winning Peter back. He saw beyond the offense to the man He loved, the man He had called, the man who would become a pillar of the early church. When we shift our focus from issues to people, forgiveness becomes less about them deserving it and more about them needing it – just like we do. We remember that we’re all broken people in need of grace, and that changes how we approach conflict.
Bible Verse
‘If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.’ – Matthew 18:15
Reflection Question
In your current conflicts, are you more focused on winning the argument or winning the person back, and what would it look like to shift your focus?
Quote
“The goal is that you have won your brother because the person is more valuable than the issue.” -Pastor Jerry Madden
Prayer
Father, help me to see people the way You see them. When I’m hurt, remind me that the person is more valuable than the issue. Give me Your heart for those who have wounded me, and help me to fight for them, not against them. Amen.