Scripture:
Luke 17:3-4 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Observation:
Jesus makes it clear that temptation to sin will come and that witching relationships people mess up. However, when someone sins against you and repents, our response is to forgive.
Application:
The heart of Christian friendship is to seek forgiveness and restoration when sinful behavior seeks to disrupt the relationship. The key is a heart of repentance by the offender and a heart of restoration by the one offended. Both have to take their eyes of themselves and think about the other.
A few things:
-When I wrong someone, I can’t expect them to forgive me if I don’t repent. If I haven’t changed my attitude and behavior, why should I expect them to?
-When I am wronged, I must not dwell on the hurt or pain. I must instead give my time and energy towards healing through Jesus. I must remember that I wrong people as well. I must keep my expectations of others in check with reality.
-In the midst of conflict I must take my eyes off of me and place them of Jesus. I must think about how the conflict is impacting kingdom advancement and effectiveness. Not just how it is impacting my emotions.
Prayer:
Father thank you for your word and the words of your Son that give life and direction into very practical areas of my life. May my relationships be marked by grace and forgiveness.