If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
—Matthew 18:15
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
The right thing to do can also be the very hardest thing to do. Many of us find it much easier to gossip about someone who has wronged us than to obey Jesus. But one thing is the right thing when we have been wounded by the action of another brother or sister in Christ. Jesus commanded us to go to the person who has wronged us, try to keep the damage contained to just the two of us, and work on being reconciled with each other. Satan lives in the festering and poisonous places in our hearts where unforgiveness and resentment reside. God’s desire, and what should be our goal as his children, is reconciliation that is personal, face-to-face, and genuine. Our desire to be reconciled to our offending brother or sister “for whom Christ died” (Romans 14:15-16; 1 Corinthians 8:11) must be stronger than our desire for revenge or getting even. Redemption must be our motivation, and Jesus’ commands must be our guide!
My Prayer…
Oh, LORD God Almighty, forgive my foolish and selfish ways. Please give me the courage to lovingly confront – or better yet, “carefront” – those who have sinned against me. If I cannot bring about reconciliation, help me through the power of your Holy Spirit, to forgive as you have forgiven me. In Jesus’ name, and because of his atoning sacrifice for both my sins and their sins, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
