Settle Differences

Living in Covenant

A Heart-felt Covenant

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

Jesus Teaches about Spiritual Discernment

Matthew 18:15-20 The Message

15-17 “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.

18-20 “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”

For Reflection

Who has the responsibility to resolve differences?  The one who feels violated should take the first step toward reconciliation.  Some times one has to be persistent. But it is not about who was wrong. It is about making it right.

Sometimes it is not possible to reconcile. Then, let time heal the differences and continue to permit God to work in you and the other.  

Pray

Pray often and long so that you can love as God loves and correct as God corrects.

Note: Dyed silk banner by students at the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, Montreat, NC, 2019
Forward to a friend