#1192. Help each other to get up when we’ve fallen (22/11/24)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series.

Today, from Luke 17:3-4, we reflect on how we are to deal with sin in our relationships - we are to help each other to get up when we’ve fallen.

Luke 17:3–4

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https://youtu.be/lVsx64RxgSk

‘“So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”’ (Luke 17:3-4)

Luke 17:3–4

1. Watch yourselves to avoid falling

We are urged to ‘Watch yourselves’ or ‘Be on your guard!’ Why? Because, if we don’t, we will stumble or cause others to stumble. As we saw in verse 1, ‘“Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come…”’ and so we must vigilant. If we’re not vigilant, we may fall into sin, sin against others or inspire others away from Jesus. Added to this, if we are not vigilant, bitterness and unforgiveness, like pernicious weeds, will mar our lives and church communities.

2. Help each other to get up when we’ve fallen

However much we do ‘watch ourselves’, we do fall, fail and offend others on occasion. We sin against people, and they sin against us. In fact, this a an important part of the sanctification process. We learn about our sin and learn about how to be a loving community often through the tensions and failures that arise in community.

Firstly, we are told to ‘rebuke’ (Admonish) those who sin against us; and let’s not forget that this infers that we may very often be the one who’s being rebuked! My advice is to do this when you and others are calm, but as close to the event as possible otherwise it’s unlikely to happen. If we are the one being rebuked, avoid defensiveness and deflection - telling the other person the things that they also do wrong is very common and is demeaning and dismissive! Let the person who is correcting do most of the talking and ask questions for clarification.

Secondly, we are commanded to forgive without limit those who repent and respond to correction. Like God toward us, we are to be over flowingly gracious toward others.

Thirdly, inferred in this is the idea that true reconciliation can only happen if both parties - the wronged and the wrongdoer - have the right attitude. However, if there is no repentance, we are to forgive, but reconciliation cannot occur.

There’s much more that could be said, but, today, let’s focus on the most common issues; let’s guard ourselves from sin or inspiring sin in others. Secondly, talk to those who sin against you or whom you feel need some loving correction. Finally, listen well to correction and be prepared to repent and be reconciled. If in doubt, talk to a pastor in your church to get wise advice.

Let’s pray together

“Father, I thank you for your forgiveness and that I’m reconciled to You in Christ. Help me to be a peacemaker. Help me to correct and be corrected in a godly fashion. Amen.”