Day 155 "Train wrecks often hurt innocent bystanders; therefore, we must endeavor to keep the tracks clear."

Day 155 Matthew 18:15-17 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” Up until now, Jesus has been very careful about offending people. He has directed us to turn the other cheek, give more than what our enemy asks for, and He has even performed miracles in order not to be an offense to others. Why the sudden change? I'm sure many of you have already figured it out. Up until this point, Jesus has been speaking of how we relate to those who have yet to accept Christ as Lord; however, here He is speaking of how we interact when there is a conflict with another believer who has sinned against us. You see, our interaction with people has everything to do with their affiliation with Christ; if they know Him, they know better than to sin against a brother. If they do not know Christ, we are to help them through their sin in order to have the opportunity to introduce them to Him. While great in theory and principle, this is not something that is easy to accomplish in the real world; however, we are commanded to do so. In today’s ‘everything goes’ world, I have no doubt that there are many who would consider confronting someone over a moral offense as well offensive. And, if you went so far as to take them before the Church with witnesses, of course you would be considered judgmental or worse, and if you kicked them out of the Church, well, "How dare you think you are better than they!" However, again, we are speaking first of all about those who profess to be followers of Christ, and we are, each by professing such, held to a higher standard; hence, greater judgment. In addition, there is another contingency to this action: there must be two or more witnesses, a condition which God placed upon mankind first of all in Deuteronomy 17:6, which He continues to reiterate throughout the Word and even into Hebrews 10:28. The bottom line is this, when we sin against a brother or sister in Christ, we need to confess our sin to them and make restitution that leads to restoration, thus accepting the humiliation and embarrassment that comes with this action. Would it not be better to accept these consequences than to risk our heavenly rewards? And for those who refuse to accept the consequences, they are to be avoided and expelled from fellowship, for they are truly worse than a nonbeliever–they profess to know the Truth yet deny its power over them; hence, left alone, they would infect and affect the walk of others and possibly lead them astray. Yes, this all sounds very harsh; however, taken in the context of the previous passages in Chapter 18, it really does make sense, does it not? Just remember the first rule: we are to love one another with unconditional love, if you remember that and depend on the Holy Spirit God is faithful to lead. Daily Prayer: Father, may we be strong enough to hold our brothers and sisters accountable yet humble enough to love them through their trials. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Train wrecks often hurt innocent bystanders; therefore, we must endeavor to keep the tracks clear." Pastor Gene Burroughs