Healing Broken or Strained Relationships...

 Healing Broken or Strained Relationships…

Could what Jesus taught in Matthew 18 (see reference below) be the reason why there is such a lack of accountability and so many weak and broken relationships in the body of Christ? Could this be one reason why we don’t see answers to our prayers at times? I don’t think Jesus is referring to crimes involving breaking the law or sexual assault and battery. I believe he’s referring to disputes and offenses among brethren.

I am just as guilty of not confronting a brother or sister who has sinned against me. It is much easier for me to go apologize and try to make things right, if I know I have wronged someone. I’ve had to do this several times and will continue to do so if necessary. But for me to confront a brother sister who has wronged me inadvertently or willfully, is way beyond my comfort zone and emotional ability.

As such, many of us go “unchecked” for sins committed i.e., promises made that have gone unfulfilled, things said we would do that we didn’t do, defrauding a brother or sister of money owed to them, or just walking away from a relationship with no explanation whatsoever.

Having said that, I have not always done my part to do this the way Jesus commands us to. When I read this passage today, I felt deeply convicted. I need to change and do better in this area. It all starts with obedience to God's Word. Next it takes humility. The next step is taking a risk of being rejected and misunderstood. It takes open and honest communication. I’m working on it. How about you?

In the same token, if I have wronged anyone reading this and it is keeping you from loving me as a sister in Christ, or strained/ broken our relationship, please come to me privately and let’s talk about it so we can try to understand one another and reconcile if need be.

Regardless of the outcome, we are commanded to forgive one another from the heart...

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“If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. 20For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! 23Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. 26Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

27His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him. 28But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’

29So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’

30But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.

31When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master. 32Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me. 33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.

35That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18: 15-35