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Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Additional Scripture References: Matthew 5:23-24, Proverbs 17:9, Proverbs 14:9, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 119:165; Philippians 4:8
Have you ever been in a relationship and not seen eye to eye? You took a stand believing you were on the right side of the argument, and it ended up driving a wedge between you and the person you love. You couldn’t let it go, and now your teammate feels like your opposition. Your desire to be right outweighed humility and you missed out on the opportunity to grow in intimacy. The truth is that we’ve all been there. If you find yourself distanced in a relationship you value, take heart because God has bridged the gap for us to find restoration.
Agreement is not the point, forgiveness is the key
Strengthening a relationship relies not on agreement, but on love and forgiveness. Failing to forgive creates space for bitter roots to grow. The longer we choose to be offended, the more distance we allow in our relationships. Bitter roots put a lens on our perception, causing us to see offense everywhere. Rather than looking at life through a lens of offense, God’s word reminds us to focus on what is true, noble, right, and pure. The first step to freedom is acknowledging the distance we’ve allowed in our relationships.
“So, what if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that someone has something against you? Leave your gift there and go make peace with that person. Then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
When we choose to be in a relationship, offense is inevitable and disagreements will arise. How we handle these moments makes all the difference between walking in bitterness and walking in grace and love. There is a correct way to apologize and make peace. Before pointing a finger at the other person, we are called to lay down our fence and walk over our offenses. Love is powerful, and there is strength in recognizing we are called to be in unity. We play a role in our relationships — we can remove the lens of bitterness, accept responsibility, and walk in healing.
“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9
To be in relationships with others is one of the greatest gifts of this life. Relationships are hard work, filled with opportunities to choose how we will respond to offense. A relationship that goes the distance is one with a path paved by offenses that have been laid down. Jesus calls us to live a life unoffended, walking in true peace. As we choose to go first in forgiving those who have hurt us, we can rest assured that we will make it as long as we stay close to Jesus.
Take some time to meditate on Psalm 119:165, which reads, “Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.” Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas where you are carrying offense. Lay down your offenses, forgive, and ask God to fill you with great peace.
All of you that are already in our database will receive a text this upcoming Thursday from our new text platform. It isn’t spam, it’s really us! This will become a primary way for us to resource, equip, and update you. We encourage you to save this number and opt in for more updates.
VOUS High is youth community of VOUS and we are creating a space for middle schoolers to gather for service every Sunday.
Students will start with worship in the main auditorium and then be dismissed to their junior high space. This will be a moment to connect with other students, hear a message, and then discuss in small groups.
For more information and to RSVP your student, click here
Join us at the annual ILMC Thanksgiving Bash to distribute meal kits and turkeys. Also, bring a chair and cheer on your favorite team at our annual VOUS Bowl.
To serve, click here
Date: Saturday, November 23rd
Time: 9:00AM - 12:30PM
Location: Charles Hadley Park
1350 NW 50th St
Miami, FL 33142
Ready to kick off Thanksgiving with a burst of energy and community? Join us bright and early at Peacock Park for the VOUS 10K Turkey Trot! Whether you're a runner, a walker, or somewhere in between, this is a chance to start your day with some fresh air, great friends, and all-around fun! See you at the starting line!
To sign up for the Turkey Trot, click here
Date: Thursday, November 28th
Time: 6:00AM
Location: Peacock Park
2820 McFarlane Rd.
Miami, FL 33133
On Sunday, December 1st we're bringing our annual Tree Lighting tradition to both our SoMi and Miami Gardens Locations! Sign up to serve and join us for a night of fun! Invite your friends and let's welcome the Christmas season together!
Please note: There will not be a 6PM service at VOUS City. Instead, join us at VOUS Miami Gardens for the 6PM service, followed by the tree lighting celebration.
Date: December 1st
Time: 7:30PM
Location:
VOUS Miami Gardens
17801 NW 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33169
VOUS SoMi
6767 Sunset Dr
South Miami, FL 33143
To serve, click here
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS Design District
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10AM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack
