What Jesus Did : Luke 17:3-4 - Redeeming Relationships from Sin
by Phil Ware
Redeeming Relationships from Sin - Luke 17:3-4
"So be careful! If your brother sins, tell him he is wrong. If he is sorry {and stops sinning}, forgive him. If your brother does something wrong to you seven times in one day, but he says that he is sorry each time, then you should forgive him." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
In today's polite and politically correct society, it is considered rude to step in and confront someone about his or her unethical or improper behavior or sin. Hurting someone's feelings or impinging on his or her right of free expression is of more concern than evil acts, unethical practices, and sinful rebellion. How sad! How wrong of us as Christians. We are called to a different standard in God's Kingdom family. We take sin seriously so we go after sinners, not to punish or berate them, but to help them turn from their rebellious ways and reclaim them to us. If we take sin seriously, we also must take forgiveness even more seriously! Dispensing forgiveness was a key reason Jesus came to earth. As Jesus' presence in the world now, it is our job to practice radical forgiveness. And facilitating forgiveness and reconciliation, whether we are the offender or the offended, is always our responsibility!
Today's Prayer
Father, help me take my sin, as well as the sin that has entrapped my Christian friends, seriously. Don't let me tone down others who want to call your people away from their sin and rebellion. Please give me a heart of compassion and words that serve, bless, and strengthen others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Jesus said to his followers, "Things will surely happen that will make people sin. But it will be very bad for the person that makes this happen. It will be very bad for a person if he makes one of these weak persons sin. It would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the sea. So be careful! "If your brother sins, tell him he is wrong. If he is sorry {and stops sinning}, forgive him. If your brother does something wrong to you seven times in one day, but he says that he is sorry each time, then you should forgive him." The apostles said to the Lord (Jesus), "Give us more faith!" The Lord said, "If your faith is as big as a mustard seed, then you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Dig yourself up and plant yourself in the ocean!' And the tree will obey you. "Suppose one of you has a servant that has been working in the field. The servant has been plowing the ground or caring for the sheep. When he comes in from work, what would you say to him? Would you say, 'Come in and sit down to eat'? No! You would say to your servant, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Then get dressed and serve me. When I finish eating and drinking, then you can eat.' The servant should not get any special thanks for doing his job. He is only doing what his master told him to do. It is the same with you. When you do all the things you are told to do, you should say, 'We are not worthy of any special thanks. We have only done the work we should do.'"-- Luke 17:1-10 (ERV)
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