December 11, 2022 - Matthew 18:15-17

“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17 NLT

Lord, this is one of those verses that for a lot of us can be hard to live out. Maybe we would prefer to ignore bad behavior, or have other people address it rather than address it directly ourselves. Jesus, these things might be easier for us, but it isn’t what you have instructed us to do. We can’t get around these words, as they were straight from your mouth. Please grow us in living these verses out.

We want your wisdom in knowing how to address things in a way that people will hear them and grow from them. I think of how you would address things with people. You often used stories to open people’s eyes. Other times it was very direct. The key was that you knew what they needed to hear. Help us not address things in anger or frustration but gain your wisdom and your heart before we address the issue. Give us the courage to step out in obedience to what you are speaking to us and not let the uncomfortableness of it stop us. Then, if we have taken the first step, but now need to move on to the next steps, give us wisdom on how to go about this in the best and most loving way. Help us realize that if it gets to the end, that you are not saying to excommunicate them. We still are to love them, for you loved the pagans and tax collectors, but your expectations for the lost are different than for fellow believers.

In Jesus name, amen.