ODJ: what follows…
June 27, 2011
If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive (v.3).
READ: Luke 17:1-10
Someone close to me (and to those I love) recently made some poor decisions that affected us all, and what followed wasn’t pretty. Pain. Grief. Suffering. Those words capture the essence of the bitter sting brought by foolish choices.
You’ve been there. We all have. Broken and strained relationships can haunt our days with all the ragged emotions and troubled thoughts that they foster.
Fortunately, Jesus provides some words of instruction that can help us deal with this prickly issue. Let’s follow along as He takes us from heartache to potential hope and healing:
1. Believers in Jesus will be tempted and will sin against us (Luke 17:1). Although it is never pleasant or desired, our friends and family will sin against us and fail us in this life.
2. We must lovingly confront the person who has sinned against us (v.3). It’s not loving to ignore the offense and simmer in our anger or to return the person’s attacks with a volley of our own. We must show the radical love of Jesus as we address the offense with the offender.
3. If the person genuinely repents, we must forgive him (vv.3-4). True forgiveness can only be extended if the person who has sinned against us repents. In his book Jesus and the Gospels, theologian Craig Blomberg writes that this means individuals must “change their behavior rather than just apologize.” That’s real repentance.
But what should you do when the person who has sinned against you refuses to repent? Jesus gives us a single word to take to heart: obey (v.10). As we continue to deal with those who sin against us, we can turn the person over to God and simply obey and follow His Word.
We can’t stop someone from making poor and foolish choices, but we can make godly choices in what follows. —Tom Felten
How did you respond recently to a believer in Jesus who sinned against you? What will you do today to follow Jesus and His instruction as you deal with this broken relationship?
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it-
RSS Feed
Related
ODJ: Syndie & Me
April 9, 2012 Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (v.9). READ: Joshua 1:1-9 Last year I went through a bone marrow transplant (BMT). By God’s grace I didn’t go it alone. Family and friends walked with me through the procedure [...]
ODJ: discord in the family
January 12, 2010 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people (2 Timothy 2:24). READ: Proverbs 6:12-19 According to a 2009 study, men and women sin differently. This study of the seven deadly sins found that the top [...]
ODB: completely clean
October 31, 2010 READ: Hebrews 10:1-18 It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. —Hebrews 10:4 Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me-ee. Happy birthday to me. . . . Happy bir . . . After humming the “birthday song” a second time, [...]
ODJ: gaining strength
May 11, 2011 My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness (v.9). READ: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 After 20 years in youth ministry, my husband has weathered his fair share of injuries on the job. Most recently, he was involved in a competitive outdoor game when he twisted his foot. Playing [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米