CARING AND CONFRONTING!

CARING AND CONFRONTING!

Mark 8:31-33

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Luke 22:31-32

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Mark 16:7

7 [The angel said unto Mary Magdalene] But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

          Simon Peter was a special case! Looking at his failures one would wonder why Jesus pursued him so persistently. He was brash, violent and intemperate. He was boastful but undisciplined and unfaithful. He was like many of us yet Jesus not only called him but carefully and consistently challenged his every flaw.

          I do not like confrontation! Merriam-Webster says “confrontation” is “to deal unflinchingly with the issue.” Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is to confront a brother or sister in Christ regarding their sin or error. As a shepherd, it is the most difficult thing I do.  Sometimes the most loving thing I do is to confront and challenge a friend.

James 5:19-20

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Father, thank you for the loving way you confront my sin. Thank you for keeping me accountable. AMEN