"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."
— Matthew 18:15 NLT
Key Thought
It's one thing to reach out to the fallen brother or sister who has lost sight of the way. It's quite another to restore a brother or sister who has wronged us personally. But underneath the episodes of this chapter lies a subterranean stream of grace and redemptive love.
When we have been hurt, often our first reaction is to get even by letting everyone else know what a jerk this person was to us. But not in Jesus' redemptive community. The goal is restoration: restoration of the personal relationship and restoration of the person back to the character of Jesus' community.
If the injury is a private matter, then we should begin by going personally, alone, to lovingly and redemptively confront the brother or sister with the goal of reconciliation. There are no other options open to us until this first step is taken!
Today's Prayer
Holy and loving Father, forgive me when I've thought more about getting even than I have about regaining relationship with brothers and sisters. I know that when I am out of relationship with others, it blocks my relationship with you. Please give me the courage, wisdom, sensitivity, and timing to lovingly and redemptively confront those who sin against me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
- Matthew 5:21-26
- Leviticus 19:17-18
- Luke 17:3
About This Devotional
What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.
What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.
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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