Key Thought

The old line about education in the U.S. was that we need to focus on the 3 R's -- reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. In church discipline, the focus needs to be on God's 3 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, confront in times of sin, and care enough to discipline when rebellion is destroying lives. The world does not understand because it does not hold to values of Christian character. But it is more than a character battle among God's children; it's a battle for people themselves. 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. Can we do less?

Today's Prayer

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Father, heavy on my heart today are several people who 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.

Today's Verses in Context

"If your brother or sister does something wrong to you, go and tell that person what he did wrong. Do this alone with that person. If that person listens to you, then you have helped that person to be your brother again. But if that person refuses to listen, then go to him again and bring one or two people with you. Then there will be two or three other people that will be able to tell all that happened. If that person refuses to listen to them, then tell the church (group of believers). If that person refuses to listen to the church, then treat him like he is a person that does not believe in God. Treat him like he is a tax collector. "I tell you the truth. When you speak judgment here on earth, that judgment will be God's judgment. When you promise forgiveness here on earth, that forgiveness will be God's forgiveness. "Also, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something, then you can pray for it. And the thing you ask for will be done for you by my Father in heaven. This is true, because if two or three people are together believing in me, I am there with them."

— Matthew 18:15-20 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.