Matthew 18:15-17 NIV
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. [16] But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ [17] If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Living in our social media age, we all are probably aware how quickly these days a minor indiscretion or disagreement can quickly blow up in to a full scale storm, whereas in the past an incident might blow over in a couple of days, today it can hit the headlines in minutes. Everyone feels entitled to have their say and display their outrage. This advice from Jesus calls for restrain and self-control so that not only is the truth discovered and the wrong righted, but the one in the wrong is given the chance to be restored – don’t forget, Jesus was ‘infamous’ for reaching out to tax-collectors…
Father, teach me when it is right to speak out and when it is right to hold my tongue.
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