#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday17
#willyoujoinme

Hello everyone – please join me in reading Luke chapter 17.

If you’re someone who doesn’t like conflict, you’re not going to like this next teaching of Jesus. We don’t use the term “rebuke” all that much these days, and often not in a positive way. Jesus starts by saying that sin will inevitably come from time to time but that when it does, you should actually rebuke the person who has sinned against you, or in other words, confront those who have done you wrong – but with the purpose of you subsequently forgiving them and restoring the broken relationship.

Let’s face it, when someone sins against you, a wedge is driven between you, which separates you from each other relationally. You feel it and it never goes away until you are properly reconciled. People will say to you, “Just get over it” but the truth is you can’t unless the other person acknowledges that they’ve wronged you. Notice Jesus says, “. . . if they repent, forgive them” (v3). And be prepared to forgive and forgive and forgive!

What I find so counter-cultural in this is that Jesus is insisting that we, the wronged person, take the initiative in the process of reconciliation. We’re not to sulk or hold grudges, nor to pretend it didn’t happen or doesn’t matter – we are called, as followers of Jesus, to actually confront sin – but with the ultimate purpose of forgiveness which allows reconciliation.

This is entirely consistent with Jesus’ own mission and ministry. He came to confront sin with the aim of offering forgiveness, leading to reconciliation with God. Even on the cross (the greatest sin done to anyone in history!) he cries out “forgive them Father, they don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34). You see, our sin drives a relational wedge between us and God. Sometimes unwittingly, other times deliberately. And Jesus came to confront us about that sin and to offer forgiveness – and all we have to do is acknowledge our sin (repent) and we will be forgiven That is why he taught us to pray (Luke 11:4) “Forgive us our sin for we also forgive everyone who sins against us”. The words, works and ways of Jesus are all about being reconciled to God and to one another.

The consequences of not being reconciled are perpetually (eternally) broken relationships with people and with God. Which is why the concluding verses about the coming of God’s Kingdom are so sobering, even frightening. When Jesus returns it will be sudden and decisive. At that moment it will be too late to be reconciled either to God or to each other.

Hence the burden is on us to take the initiative NOW, to confront and forgive – to repent and be forgiven.

• Is there anything in your life that needs forgiving? Humbly ask God to show you and then repent (start to live God’s way in that issue) and receive his wonderful, undeserved forgiveness.
• Is there someone you need to forgive? Ask God’s help in confronting that situation wisely but frankly, and be willing to forgive whole-heartedly.
• Is there someone you know who needs to know God’s forgiveness? How can you demonstrate that to them? Maybe, like the tenth leper, it might come by your humble thankfulness for all that God has done for you?