Divine Imperatives November 11 Devotional
by David Joynt on November 11, 2023
Stress Test Devotional April 28
April 28, 2024
MATTHEW 18:15-17 | 15 ‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector.
The goal and motivation for confronting someone is healing and restoration. This is clear in Jesus’ teaching on situations where someone is hurting us and undermining the fellowship and integrity of the community. We represent Christ to the world. individually and collectively, and so there is a lot at stake in the “silent witness” of our behavior. Damaging behavior must be confronted but in a way that encourages change and growth. Privacy is key in the first moment, and this respects the reputation and standing of the one we must confront. A failure to change leads to a second appeal, with several leaders and finally in the face of obduracy, an all-church meeting. Then and only then can someone be “written off” and probably still appealed to as Jesus did to Gentiles and tax collectors!
This passage implies that confrontation should be saved for significant things. Do you agree?
Great God,
Save me from nitpicking! Give me tolerance in small things and courage in large ones.
Amen.
