[Jesus continued,] "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won't accept the church's decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector."
—Matthew 18:15-17 NLT
The old line about education in the U.S. was that we need to focus on the three R's — reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. In church discipline, the focus needs to be on God's three R's—repentance, redemption, and reconciliation. The first has to do with the sinner's response, the next is God's gracious action, and the third is the work of the church community.
However, in most Western cultures today, the problem is not with our receiving back those who have rebelled; the problem is that we don't know each other well enough to help in times of temptation, to confront in times of sin, and to care enough to discipline when rebellion is destroying lives. The world does not understand because it does not value Christian character. But it is more than a character battle among God's children; it's a battle for people themselves to rescue them from Satan's grasp. Jesus' words are harsh, but no harsher than the behavior of someone who repeatedly refuses to listen to God's call in his or her life. Jesus loved the lost lamb (Matthew 18:12-14). Can we do less?
Father, my heart is heavy today. Several people whom I dearly love have rebelled against your will and have hurt the people around them. Please give me the opportunity and the courage to reach out and be your tool of redemption to bring them back to your family and your grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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—Matthew 18:15-17 NLT
Key Thought
The old line about education in the U.S. was that we need to focus on the three R's — reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. In church discipline, the focus needs to be on God's three R's—repentance, redemption, and reconciliation. The first has to do with the sinner's response, the next is God's gracious action, and the third is the work of the church community.
However, in most Western cultures today, the problem is not with our receiving back those who have rebelled; the problem is that we don't know each other well enough to help in times of temptation, to confront in times of sin, and to care enough to discipline when rebellion is destroying lives. The world does not understand because it does not value Christian character. But it is more than a character battle among God's children; it's a battle for people themselves to rescue them from Satan's grasp. Jesus' words are harsh, but no harsher than the behavior of someone who repeatedly refuses to listen to God's call in his or her life. Jesus loved the lost lamb (Matthew 18:12-14). Can we do less?
Today's Prayer
Father, my heart is heavy today. Several people whom I dearly love have rebelled against your will and have hurt the people around them. Please give me the opportunity and the courage to reach out and be your tool of redemption to bring them back to your family and your grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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