15 "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. 16 If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. 17 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 "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.
We are not to be piously judging and condemning; we are to be accountable to each other and not be indifferent about that which causes disharmony in our lives and relationships. And we are to strive for forgiveness, not giving up until it can happen.
Forgiveness is not an option in God’s Kingdom. It is a must! And we are to keep at it until it happens.
"The hallmark of forgiveness is that
it enables the forgiver to live painlessly
with the forgiven.”
Susan Howatch
Prayer thoughts for the week:
“Lord help be remember to seek forgiveness in difficult relationships.
forgiveness both ways - from me and to me.
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