v 13. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Following Jesus is like becoming potty-trained all over again! Just as the young child makes a number of mistakes in the process – and don’t you know it – we too make mistakes as we learn to follow Jesus. But it is no good criticising one another, so I like Paul’s honest assessment of the situation when he writes ‘Make allowance for each other’s faults’. The child’s lack of bowel-control may well offend you at first (well, offend your nose at least!) but you make allowances. After all, potty-training requires patience, a peg for your nose, and a readiness to persevere.
So does learning to follow Jesus!
I’m so thankful that God persevered with me in spite of the mistakes I made, with all the potential for criticism that might have come from more experienced Christians. The willingness to make allowances for others rather than bluntly criticise them, springs from the awareness that I too have been forgiven much by my heavenly Father.