So Watch Yourself

"So watch yourselves, if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:3

We live in a sinful, broken and fallen world. Humans are broken, sinful and fallen. Once saved, we are redeemed but still living in a broken, sinful and fallen world and are bound to sin. The previous verses to this one warn us not to contribute to each other’s tendencies to sin. For example, gossip tempts others to sin, one of the many reasons it is sinful. So we are admonished to “watch ourselves”, to be careful what we think, do and say. Sin is bound to happen, can’t avoid it, our own and the sin of others. So what we should do. We are instructed by Jesus to do two things. Rebuke sinners and forgive them. We tend to respond in extremes. We either ignore sin or we rip people’s heads off about it. Rebukes should be the truth spoken in love. We also tend to talk to anybody and everybody else without going with loving concern to the sinner. After all, we all sin and would want the same, right? But no, for too many of us, too often we make matters worse by not rebuking biblically. To ignore someone’s sin is not forgiveness either, by the way. So first we gossip, instead of rebuke, compounding the sin. Then we won’t forgive and we judge. Judging is more fun when done with others. So we both let people slide claiming to not want to cause trouble, then crucify people and refuse to forgive. We should lovingly rebuke and lovingly forgive. We must do it again and again. This is how Jesus treats us, why can’t we do it for each other. Why can I seemingly talk to everyone but you about you? Sometimes under the guise of prayer too. It is extremely difficult to rebuke appropriately and equally tough to forgive repeatedly. But, that is the Christian way, what Jesus instructs. So much easier to be smug and condescending. The enemy thrives on this kind of drama, disrupting spiritual growth, accountability and healthy relationships. No wonder Jesus said to watch ourselves. We should, and stop watching others and talking “about” them instead of “to” them. Lord, forgive us for how we are and what we do to each other. Help us treat one another like you treat us.

With His Love and Mine,
Pastor Fred

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