When Your Brother Sins, Against You

Good Morning!! Just imagine, you overhear a member of your church, say something about you that are unkind, and untrue. Or maybe, a fellow believer takes unfair advantage of you, in a business transaction. How do we deal with this? Jesus says, "Go."

"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over."—Matthew 18:15 (NIV)

Jesus says, "Go." Point out the offense privately, quietly, in a spirit of friendship. Most of us don't like conflict,...so much so, that we will "go" to extraordinary means, to avoid it. But remember, our purpose, is not to humiliate or scold. Our purpose is to "gain our brother or sister." Reconciliation is the goal, not condemnation. Prayerfully and humbly, try to get the offender to appreciate the injury he or she has inflicted.

Jesus' teachings are are hard stuff,
...but couldn’t we all tell stories of situations that got way out of hand,
...and it all may have been avoided, if only at the beginning, if only someone would have had the courage to "go and tell someone their fault ",...in private.

Holy Spirit, help us follow God's way to reconciliation. Amen.

"It's nice to be important,...but it's more important to be nice."