DEVOTION - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

DEVOTION,   THURSDAY,   OCTOBER 18, 2012

More Than Words

BY

RON MOORE

 Matthew 18:15 | Devotional

Matthew 18:15
If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

When someone ticks you off, what’s the first thing you do? Now, just to be clear, I’m not asking you Mother Teresa and St. Francis of Assisi types who write “Thank You” notes with a gift certificate to Cold Stones to the people that irritate you. I am asking normal people—what’s the first thing you do? Yeah, you walk down the hall or shoot off an e-mail or make a call and tell a friend, “I am so ticked off! You will not believe what so-and-so just did!” (Now, if you’re abnormal, you post it on Facebook for the whole world to see…but that’s another issue. I’ll give you the names of some good counselors.)

Just to be clear, being normal is, well…normal…but it’s not an excuse to sin. Jesus said before you text or e-mail or call or walk down the hall, go to whomever ticked you off and tell that person that what he/she did or said something that really upset you. Jesus instructs us to do this: “go and show [the person who sinned against you] his fault, just between the two of you.”

Can you imagine how life would change if we normal people did that? How many rumors would stop flying? How much bitterness would melt away? How many grudges would be gone? How much resentment would recede? How much anger would be assuaged? How much jealousy would disappear? Just obeying this one verse would change our lives! So, here’s my challenge to all you regular guys (generically speaking, of course): Do Matthew 18:15 and watch your heart change right before your eyes.

Father, may we be doers and not just hearers of your word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.