Well, we say we want to live according to God’s Word, and Christ’s teachings, but do we really do it?
Jesus said we would be hated by the world for simply believing in Him. That’s one reason we may not feel loved or accepted by the world, but what about our friends?
How many times have we ‘judged’ a person simply because of what someone said about them? How many times do we listen to other people and form an opinion of a person by what one person told us? That’s wrong! But we do it anyway, don’t we!
I wonder, have you ever become angry with someone simply from a statement made by someone else, but never got to the bottom of it? It could be the person’s information was inaccurate, a lie, or exaggeration; yet perhaps a relationship ended because of something someone said. Is there a loved one you haven’t seen because of someone else? Is there strife in your marriage? Or perhaps, even going through a divorce based on something someone else said? Are you missing a good friend because of something someone told you, yet you’ve never asked them yourself?
It is written: “15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” Matthew 18:15-16
The main thought I’m bringing here is the last sentence of verse 16. “… that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”
Verse 15 begins with “if thy brother shall trespass against thee.” If someone has not done anything to us, why should we get upset with him or her, simply because of something someone else told us? Things get out of hand simply from what other people say about each other! Why are we so opinionated?
Now, if someone offends us, we should follow Jesus’ teaching/advice (or is that a command?) in verse 15 and go speak to them ourselves, alone! Is that something you need to do? Perhaps that’s all that’s needed to reestablish a strained relationship.
This lesson teaches us that nothing is established by one witness. There need to be two or three saying the same thing. And this method of law was also used by the chief priests in Mark 14:56 “For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.”
And also in Mark 14:59?”But neither so did their witness agree together.”
So they left Him alone! (for a little while)
They wanted witnesses who could agree together to find Jesus guilty of blasphemies. When the whole town finally agreed, while standing in front of Pontius Pilate, they were able to persuade him to let them have Him so they could crucify Him.
Living Christ-like to me means making everyday decisions by using the examples Jesus gave us in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. How subtly we are deceived! All we can do is try and ask God for assistance, because we can pray and then walk right out of our prayer closet into Satan’s snare, because of our weak flesh nature.
Thank God for His mercy and love that endures forever according to 1 Chronicles 16:34 “34 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.”
And thank God for His gift of salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ!
“Jesus replied, “If you only knew the GIFT God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” John 4:10
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