DATE POSTED: Tuesday, June 20, 2023, and I was blessed to be at O’Brien, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

BY: Ed Algreen

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Amplified Bible (AMP) IS FOUND IN Luke 17:3-4

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Pay attention and always be on guard [looking out for one another]! If your brother sins and disregards God’s precepts, solemnly warn him; and if he repents and changes, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him [that is, give up resentment and consider the offense recalled and annulled].”

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: HELP!!!! For it seems like somewhere along the way, the world, or Satan, has changed the rules on us, and created in us a different plan to that ordered my God. Our Scripture today includes words spoken by Jesus Himself as he taught His disciples. Did this change somewhere along the way on how we are to correct one another today? Let’s have a look at this and see how to best apply the Word of God to our lives.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I believe that God, the One who created us in His image, and designed us to be like Him here on earth, He also has the right, privilege and design to point us in the right direction so that we may walk this earth, interact with others, and be a proper example of our Creator. Therefore, when I read this Scripture today, God drew my attention to these particular verses because, to obey this command, is probably one of the toughest things for mankind to act upon. Giving a pat-on-the-back to a pastor, church leaders or members seem to come somewhat naturally, even though very often we hesitate in doing so. But to discipline, or correct, is something that most Christians stay away from. Perhaps to avoid confrontation, or to avoid someone walking away from the church and either moving to another church, or just simply staying at home. Why, some really get their feelings hurt and stop giving to the Lord when they don’t get their own way at church. This may be caused because we have become a people so stuck in our own belief system, or in our own ways, that we truly don’t appreciate advice, or correction, from anyone else. No doubt Christians today have become so accustomed to, and try to practice wholeheartedly, the words of Jesus that we love one another with the love that Jesus loves us, that it just doesn’t seem right to correct someone. But try to apply that to parenting! Wouldn’t this world be in utter chaos if we chose not to correct and discipline our kids? I wonder, is that perhaps what might be going on in Christendom today with the lack of correction? By not correcting, or disciplining, or denouncing certain habits or behaviors, aren’t we perhaps endorsing them? Are we giving the ‘all-clear’ verdict from the church – God’s living organism on earth? Friends, we can all kid around about a time when we were disciplined by a parent, and they told us that their actions would hurt them more than it would us! We sometimes laugh about that, now that we are older, but has that not hardened us against disciplining others in the church now? I love the way that Jesus taught this principle. He directed us to discipline, and be ready to forgive, if we notice changes in their lives to show evidence of that correction, no matter how many times they come back to us and ask for forgiveness. What a lesson for us today. Way too often we expect military style turn around and repentance. Otherwise, we feel like our correction fell on deaf ears, or were simply rejected, leaving us with no alternative but to turn our backs on them. Friends, we discipline because we love that person ignoring the teaching and example of Jesus Christ, and we want to see them correct their ways. Let’s do all within our power to help other children of God overcome evil and live in accordance with God’s commands. Our aim should always be that we walk through the gates of heaven arm in arm as we prepare ourselves for the voice of Jesus in complimenting us for our obedience to His call and message.

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: We warn someone because we love them, and we want to see them benefit from obedience, and be blessed of God.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You precious Lord for loving me enough to accept me as I was, and teaching me to correct my inadequacies and wrong doings each day. I apologize that this is such an ongoing necessity, for I’m sure You must have hoped that I would be self-sufficient and fully obedient to Your commands by now. Thank You Lord for Your patience and Your ongoing guidance to steer me aright. Please show me opportunities to help others along the way, even if that involves warning them at times. Lord, please help me to do that with a heart patterned after Your heart and filled with the same love that drove You to the cross to express Your love for mankind. For the church to be the church, I believe that we, Your servants, must learn to follow Your example and fully obey all Your commands. There is absolutely no time for being conflicted about our beliefs, as this will leave gaps for Satan to enter and destroy us. AMEN!