Devotion

Have the Conversation
And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hears thee, thou hast gained thy brother. ---Matthew 18:15 (SV)

When we accept in the fullness of our faith what scripture tells us to do, all we can say is, "Okay." But I know that in today's times we give much consideration to whether we should risk having a conversation with people who have wronged us. The possibility of getting cussed out, harassed, or physically attacked is of valid concern. How can we be sure that a kind social demeanor is not a surface shield that covers a bruised soul that will project on us? We can’t be sure, but we can have hope and ask God to give us courage to have the conversation. Love hurts sometimes, and - for a caring soul - the sting that you feel from the wrong done to you is because of love that has been hurt and needs to be tended to. Another caring soul will hear what you say, feel and understand the fault, and be grateful to make things right. But there are souls who are already bruised and find gratification in holding on to a wrong instead of forgiving what their brother or sister would like to amend. And there are bruised souls who will not listen to the wrong they have done to another caring soul. In all three examples, there is an element of love that is either hurt or is damaged. A conversation is the only way to know what is really there. So...have the conversation and know this: You and the Holy Spirit account for two persons, and that already puts the outcome in your favor. Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20)." Amen.