Matthew 18:15 – Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

We don’t always practice humility. There are times when, deliberately or unconsciously, we offend others and hurt them. Even the Old Testament Law recognized “sins of ignorance” (Num. 15:22), and David prayed to be delivered from “secret faults” (Ps. 19:12), meaning “faults that are even hidden from my own eyes.” What should you do when another Christian has sinned against you or caused you to stumble? First and foremost, keep the matter private. Approach the person who sinned and speak with him alone. It is possible that he does not even realize what he has done. Or, even if he did it deliberately, your own attitude of submission and love will help him to repent and apologize. Above all else, go to him with the idea of winning your brother, not winning an argument. Remember, it is possible to win the argument and lose your brother.

Challenge:

Has someone wronged you and hurt you in some way? Have you been holding bitterness in your heart toward that person causing you to no longer want to be in their presence? Do you find yourself waiting for them to come to you and ask for your forgiveness? Please consider the fact that they might not even realize that they have wronged you. Your challenge this week is to take action and go to that person and talk with them and share how they have hurt you. Explain to them how their actions have caused you pain and your desire to make things right again. Often, you will find the situation is much worse in your head than it actually is in reality. This week go out and gain back your brother or sister and be reconciled with them once again. God bless you.