Day 18 Theme: Church Life
If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother– Matthew 18:15
Jesus here gives the prescription for offenses within the body of Christ. Do you believe his medicine is effective? Will you apply its healing power to your life?
If a member of the body has injured you in some way, Jesus says to speak with him or her about it in private. Do not broadcast the injury around the church. Do not try to gather a group of people "on your side" within the church. In fact, do not bring it up with anyone else, at all!
Tell him his fault between you and him alone. That is the first and necessary step toward genuine reconciliation and peace within the body. If this labor does not work, Jesus gives further instructions in the verses that follow.
But before moving on to the next "step" of discipline, consider this first and foundational admonition carefully. Have you spoken to the offending person, in complete privacy? Was you goal to gain your brother or sister, as Jesus clearly intimates it should be? Or were you simply seeking to offend someone in return?
Do you believe the Great Physician knows how to heal his own church? Then apply his cure liberally to your own heart and friendships and see its marvelous power to restore, refresh, and renew the body of Christ.
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