Joshua 4:1-7 – “Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 ” Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.'” 4 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, ” Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 6 ” Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So, these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” NASB

God was bringing Israel into the “Promised Land” after their long (in reference to time) journey from Egypt to Canaan.  Moses is dead and Joshua has accepted the mantle of leadership given him by God. 

It is here, as they prepare to cross over into the Place of Promise that Joshua gives this directive that can be used by each of us today.  He had them take 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan River and make a memorial on the Canaan side of Jordan as a “continual reminder” of God’s ability, willingness, faithfulness, and fulfillment of His promises – His Covenant!  This was to be something that when future generations came and saw the stones piled up, they could ask what they represented and hear the testimony of God’s Faithfulness and Covenant Keeping!

It would be well for each of us to have “memorials” to remind us of God’s faithfulness and covenant-keeping.  I have numerous things in my life that are just that.  I have scars on my body that every time I look in the mirror I am reminded of God’s faithfulness, goodness, grace, and love.  I see the scar around my throat where I had surgery for Parathyroid cancer and am reminded of God’s healing power.  There are many others but that one is something I see every day and it brings me to tears every time I think about it.  God has been so good to me and not because I deserved it but because of His great love, mercy, and grace.

When used to visit my mother in East Texas I would drive by the church where I was introduced to Jesus as my personal savior and rejoice as I would drive by, I would remember!  I look at some pictures from Viet Nam and the hardware that I brought home and am reminded of God’s power to keep me alive in the face of danger. 

When I look at pictures of me when I was less than 2 years old, I am reminded of the great love that my dad had for me in moving me from Pasadena to East Texas where I got well.  The doctors had told my parents repeatedly that I would never live to see Junior High School and probably not even Elementary school.  Yet, God’s grace, mercy, love, and power said otherwise.

When I pick up my Bible each day, I am reminded of the great love that God has for each of us, and it never fails to bring tears to my eyes, and I sit silently and rejoice that God is my God!  I have many memorials that continually remind me of where I could have been and where I am and the reason behind it.

So, as you consider your situation be reminded that God is more than able to resolve anything that you face and if others involved do not choose to allow that to happen, He will provide the grace to endure.  God’s love is unconditional.  So, as you face this day, face it with a renewed confidence that He will never leave you nor forsake you! 

May the Blessings of God cover you like a glove and may His Peace keep you in Hope!

Joshua 4:1-7 – “Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 ” Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.'” 4 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, ” Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 6 ” Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So, these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”   NASB

Is it possible that we too frequently allow momentous events and victories in our lives to go “unmarked”?  Later we remember that it happened, but we have nothing to refer back to and nothing to point to for the next generation and relate the story of God’s accomplishment in our lives and what it means to us, the ministry entrusted to us, and our families. 

Here, Israel is about to enter the “Promised Land.”  Moses, the key figure in the deliverance from Egyptian bondage, the wanderings in the wilderness, the nation becoming a nation and developing the ability to fight as one man, is dead.  A new leader is taking his place and this new leader is somewhat unproven.  Moses had placed the mantle on him and identified him as the one God had chosen for the people but at this point, the people had not seen his leadership firsthand so there was some trepidation. 

As they cross Jordan in another miracle from the Lord, God instructs Joshua to do something significant that we all need to learn to do in our lives and battles.  He had him build a “Memorial” to be remembered by future generations and as a reminder to the present generation of God’s hand of deliverance.

One stone for each tribe was taken from the river, the place of the problem which potentially blocked the path to victory.  Out of the bed of the river the priest lifted stones and assembled them on the Canaan side of the river so that whenever future generations asked, “What does this mean?” they could relate God’s miraculous deliverance all the way back to Egypt. 

It was a Memorial of Victory!  Call it whatever you will, but it was an identification point that would inspire faith and confidence in a proven act of God under His assigned leadership.  Following God’s man, in God’s plan, God’s way leads to victory and allows the body to function as ONE!

I have built many memorials to past victories in the Lord, and some are as insignificant as a note, a stone, an artifact, or a framed Bible verse.  But, when I go back to them, I remember the event as though it were yesterday and am able to relate it to my children, grandchildren, and anyone who asks and the faith that was borne in my heart on that day rises to the surface again and takes root in my heart motivating me to continue to move forward.  We dare not “cast away our confidence” but should carefully guard memories of the victories of the Lord in our lives as triggers to inspire both faith and determination to continue pressing toward the mark.

Today, many of you will have the opportunity to build a memorial of memory and a tribute to the miracle-working hand of God.  Take this opportunity to establish something that will serve as both encouragement and trigger faith in the future when things might not seem so rosy.  On this day, God…

May God bless you as you continue your week in Him!

Genesis 2:15-17 – “Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”  NASB

If you refuse to be ‘self-governed’ you virtually ask to become a slave.   Robert C. Winthrop (1852) said, “Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled, either by a power within them or by a power without them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet.”  

I believe God desires that we follow ‘Biblical Self-Government’ in all aspects of our lives.  What is Biblical Self-Government you might ask?  Simply it is the desire and ability to willingly submit to God-given authority without being forced, coerced, or constantly reminded to do so.

I believe this is evidenced in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.  Their refusal to be ‘self-governed’ by what God said to them resulted in their being expelled from the Garden.  Remember God placed no fence or guard at the ‘Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil’ but simply gave a prohibition to Adam not to eat from it.  The temptation and deception of Eve and subsequently Adam resulted in their expulsion from the Garden and God placed a guard at the gate with a flaming sword to prevent them from entering again.  Since Adam demonstrated he could not be trusted God set up a means to restrain him. 

When Israel came into the Promised Land they had no king, no parliament, no president, and no emperor to rule them only the Law of God.  They had been systematically taught the Law by Moses and those he trained and appointed to teach them.  They understood the principles and rules of how to deal justly with others in personal, private, social, business, and religious dealings.  Yet, later under the Judges they rejected God’s way and wanted the way of the world in seeking to have a king appointed over them.  God gave them a stern warning and appealed to them to return to allowing Him to govern them, through ‘self-government’ but they refused, and we know the heartaches that transpired and the history.

If we fail to allow the Holy Spirit to instill in our hearts the “Law of Life” from God’s Word, we will never be able to live truly free and be governed by God in ‘self-government.’  We will find that the tug of the world will override the principles of the Bible and moral rightness.  In that situation ‘you will be governed’ but not by God or internally, it will be by an external power and force that may or may not follow or recognize God.  As for me and my house, we desire to be ruled by the Word and Law of God and thereby able to live peaceable in a Free Society.

God bless you as you go through your day!

Isaiah 6:8 – “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  NASB

In this passage, Isaiah begins by informing us that King Uzziah had passed away and that was a troubling event for Isaiah.  It was at that time that the prophet saw a vision that rocked him to his core.  He saw the Lord enthroned on High and the Seraphim having six wings and he used two to cover his face, two to cover his feet, and with two he flew crying “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” 

That vision caused Isaiah to see his own sinfulness and he lamented, “I am ruined because I’m unclean and the people I dwell among are unclean.”  He understood that Nothing was hidden from the eyes of the Lord.  Then he saw the Seraphim flying toward him with a burning coal he had taken from the altar, and he took that coal and touched Isaiah’s mouth declaring, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sins are forgiven.” 

After this, Isaiah heard the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”  Isaiah had been prepared for service by cleansing and with a renewed heart he cried out, “Here am I. Send me!”  It was at that point the Lord said, “Go, and tell this people…”  God gave him a message and a purpose.  None of that would have any meaning had Isaiah not volunteered for service.  God will not force us into service but will open the door of opportunity for us to serve. 

That is true in our lives overall and true in our church life.  We may see the need, be convicted of our condition, and receive the cleansing and preparation of the Lord But until we volunteer it means nothing. 

I have observed churches through the years that labor feverishly to press people into service that have not volunteered although greatly qualified.  My attitude has always been that I would rather have a person with a lesser qualification who really wanted to serve than someone with impeccable credentials who did not.  One will invest the time, the energy, the prayer, and God will produce the results, the other will simply go through the motions based on their wealth of knowledge or ability and little will be truly accomplished lastingly for the Kingdom.

I have heard preachers and churches lament we do not have workers for a particular program and my response has usually been, “If there is no one to perform the task or carry on the program maybe God doesn’t want the program.”  I believe that God provides for that which He desires be that money, people, or whatever.  So, if the Holy Spirit has touched your heart and quickened you with regard to the need you see –Volunteer.  You may only be the intermediary until the one that God has designed and prepared for the task is ready or arrives, but you just might be that one.  You will never know until you respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit. 

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Matthew 15:10-11, 15-20 – “After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear and understand.  11 “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”  15 Jesus said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also?  17 “Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated?  18 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.  19 ” For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.  20 “These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” NASB

Jesus was dealing with man-made traditions and the legalism of the Pharisees when He made this statement.  It highly offended the Pharisees because of all their laws, rules, and regulations.  They were very much a “touch not” and “taste not” society on virtually every level of life including what they ate or refused to eat.  Jesus’ words indicate that too often we are focused on the wrong things in life.  His teaching covers so much more than food but sometimes we miss that part.

You can eat some things that although God does not forbid them, will most assuredly harm your health.  They won’t keep you out of heaven but might help you get there earlier than you would have otherwise.  That is a choice you have to make for yourself. 

Here Jesus gives clarity to his statement and identifies what comes out of the heart – evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and slanders.  He is identifying that out of the heart, the core of the being, the spring of your thoughts is what produces the defilement not what you eat. 

We know that it is out of the abundance of what the heart is filled with that a man speaks. (Luke 6:45) By and large, what you hear people saying identifies what is in and the condition of the heart.  I listen to what people talk about and how they talk to help me understand who and what they are.  The heart will reveal itself and the mouth, the eyes, the thoughts, and actions will give evidence as to what is inside.

So, I encourage you that instead of focusing on man-made rules, regulations, and ceremonies focus on the heart and in that make the focus of the heart God.  It is imperative that we “seek first and foremost” the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.  If you carefully read that passage you will realize that the Kingdom and the King are inseparable.  If we have the King, we have the Kingdom.

May God be with you as you go through this day!

Genesis 2:23-24 – “The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh;  She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”  NASB

Some time ago I engaged in ‘Marriage Counseling’ albeit somewhat by osmosis for some friends.  By that I mean, I did not intend to become involved, and they did not initially seek my counsel but through a series of events, it happened.  The man has been a friend of mine for a long time and I’ve known his wife a much shorter time so I deemed it likely that she would view me as taking his side in any dispute and desired to stay outside the conflict. 

Over time I had observed that it seemed that no matter what he did or said she was corrective and critical.  If he washed a dish, he either did not do it right or put it in the wrong place. If he spoke about a political event or topic he was told that he was wrong and even when he was virtually quoting what she had said he was corrected or criticized for his statements.  If he drove the car, he was in the wrong land, going too fast/slow, etc.  It was one of those situations where it appeared that no matter what he did or said it was wrong and needed to be corrected. 

I had watched over several years him transition from taking her criticism passively and attempting to do what she said into a confrontational individual who would blow up when she became corrective and/or critical.  He told me privately and then in a counseling session, “It doesn’t matter what I do it is wrong so why try?”  He even said, “I guess if I died, I’d do that wrong too.” She responded, “You probably would because you do not pay attention to detail.”  I was stunned by both comments.

I am not trying to say she was the problem, and he was the victim but I’m saying that their relationship had deteriorated to one of antagonism and all the signs of a divorce were evident.  On one occasion I heard her tell him that when he finished a dish or cup to place it on the cabinet, not in the sink.  Later I observed him taking a cup and placing it on the sink and she said, “Why didn’t you put that in the sink?  You just want to make more work for me.” 

He shook his head, looked at me, sighed, and walked away.  I should have stopped but I didn’t and said, “Just the other day I heard you tell him to put a dish on the cabinet, not in the sink.  He just did that, but you corrected him telling him the opposite.”  She said, “Well this time I wanted it in the sink.”  Still not following my own rule I asked, “How could he have known that? He was doing what you had previously told him to do.”  I continued and suggested that she might be overly critical of him to which she said, “I’m never critical of anyone.”

I know a couple of people who work with her, and she always insists that everyone at work likes her approach to things and never considered her corrective comments as criticism.  Both have told me that people at work avoid her because they consider her to be very contentious and critical no matter what they do.  So, there was a real problem in that she was being critical but could not see it.  The additional problem was he had begun to develop a contentious attitude and when you were around them you could cut the tension with a knife.

The Bible says in Proverbs 21:19 –“It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.” NASB It also declares in Proverbs 27:15 –“A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike…”   NASB Marriage is difficult enough without contentiousness on the part of either partner. 

We also read in 1 Peter 3:7 – “You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” NASB

Paul gives counsel in Ephesians 5:25-33 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.” NASB

What am I saying?  The wife was practicing criticism and her criticism was driving a wedge in their relationship.  The husband had developed an attitude and was no longer following the biblical mandate and directive, so the wedge was further enhanced by his attitude and actions.  Marriage is the joining of two individuals in a spiritual, emotional, and physical relationship wherein God’s eyes and in a real sense become One Unit.  Anything short of that is a tragedy and will never afford the beauty that is a Marriage made in Heaven and a Biblical one.

If you are the wife and critical of your spouse on virtually everything, I urge you to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal your inappropriate words and actions!  If you are the husband and have allowed an attitude that is unhealthy and unbiblical to develop, I urge you to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the inappropriateness of this too! 

You loved each other in the beginning and probably still do.  You want a happy and healthy marriage and that is not always an easy prize to achieve.  My question is – “How much is it worth to have it?”  Is it worth developing a thicker skin to criticism?   Is it worth demonstrating kindness and love instead of defending yourself by reciprocal actions and words?  What is Your Marriage Worth?

You and only you can answer that, so I urge you to seek the face of the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to restore what the devil is trying to steal.  

Blessings as you go through your day.

1 Timothy 1:5 – “But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”  “Amplified

A few nights ago, throughout the night, my thoughts were on Loving Others with a Pure Heart.  As I prayed and mused on that subject, the thoughts kept coming to mind that objective would be a human impossibility without first Loving God with our ALL (Heart, mind, soul, strength).  Had that been the end of my consideration and thought, then I would have awakened depressed and distressed, but there was more. 

I felt that the Holy Spirit was opening my mind to the reality that if we do not have that kind of relationship with God and receive His Unconditional Love and have it infused in us it is IMPOSSIBLE to love others with purity.  What happens is we allow our own preferences, views, biases, and desires to get in the way and block that kind of love.   

I have instructed congregations that we are to Love as Jesus loved only to be told – “That’s not possible because Jesus was God, and we are human.”  Seriously!  Yes, Jesus was and is God, but EVERYTHING He did on planet earth was as man, otherwise, His death on the Cross was meaningless to anyone but the Godhead.  He came AS man and FOR man.  He is our example and ONLY as we embrace His Mercy with the balance of His Holiness, Justice, Righteousness, and Purity can we enter into His presence and find His purpose and power in our lives.  

I have some acquaintances who have created a god and doctrines out of their need for justification of their own deficiencies.  They only focus on God’s Mercy without the balance of His Holiness.  They have rejected the idea of hell and eternal punishment for those who reject God’s Mercy and Grace and live outside His demand for Holiness and Righteousness.  Do we fall short?  Of course, but we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.  However, if we keep falling short in the same things that becomes a lifestyle rather than a momentary failure and that places us in a state of rebellion. 

To demand that God, ignore our rebellion would be to make God a human creation and transform Him into our image rather than us being transformed into His image.  His call is ALWAYS Higher! We dare not attempt to bring Him down to our level.   Therefore, to Love others is only possible when we follow the Greatest Command to Love the Lord our God with ALL our heart, mind, soul, and strength.  When we do that, then the Love of God permeates our being, and we are then able to Love our Neighbor as ourselves. 

How we love ourselves rightly, is rooted in Loving God rightly and completely.  Otherwise, we may find ourselves filled with self-rejection and loving others that way would be to hate them not love them.  The ONLY way we can love others rightly is to Love God Completely.  Love is never an emotion it is an action. 

Jesus said, in John 14:34 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”  In 1 John 4:20, the apostle John declared, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”  In 1 John 4:7, we read, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

In Mark 12:28-34 we have the encounter between Jesus and one of the teachers of the law.  Jesus was asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important or greatest?”  His answer was the heart of what I am declaring and the heart of the Christian life.  Jesus said, “Number one is to love God with ALL of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.”  Without that the Number two is impossible for man.  He said that the next greatest was to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” 

I have known some people and have experienced some dark times when attempting to love others as they loved themselves. I have experienced some bitter disappointments as well. If some loved others as they loved themselves, it would not be love and certainly not love out of a pure heart.  We are living in a world filled with hate and it becomes more hate-filled every day.  Much of the world and too much of the church have abandoned the commandments of Jesus regarding Love.  We try to justify our animosity, but if and that is the key “if” we love God with ALL our heart, mind, soul, and strength that love will so permeate our being that Love for others is a natural response.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He loved then, loves now, and will love forever!  If Christ is IN us and the Love of God fills our heart, then we will LOVE even when it hurts and disappoints.  The Love Chapter, as it is called 1 Corinthians 13 is applicable.  There is no excuse for not loving as Jesus loved because we have His mercy, grace, forgiveness, and through Him the New Birth, which makes us a New Creation.  You may be only human, but you have been transformed if Christ is in you. 

God is Love!  God is Mercy!  God is Holy!  God is Righteous!  God is Just!  God is Pure!  The life that we now live in the flesh we live by the faith of the Son of God.  It is Christ IN us!  Repentance is in order and to repent means to do a 180-degree turn and go in the opposite direction.  We may not find loving easy, but it is possible and like everything else requires commitment and discipline.  Father forgive, me for I have fallen short and ask that you help me to be transformed.

May God be with you as you go through this day walking in Love!

Psalm 94:18-19 – “I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.  19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” NKJV

As most of you have discerned by now, I love the Psalms for they convey so many spiritual nuggets in such poetic language it is easy to remember and relate to.  David, a man God identified as being after His own heart speaks from life experiences that most of us can relate to and is not afraid to expose his humanity. 

I have cautioned young people who were considering full-time preaching ministry to Never stop being human.  Too many that occupy the sacred desk in churches feel that they dare not expose the kinks in their armor or the people will turn on them, and sadly sometimes they are right, but I could never abide by that philosophy.  I am human, I have struggles and difficulties and God has helped me overcome some pretty incredible things.  I believe that should benefit others to know that the man they are following spiritually has and is facing some of the same struggles they are and point them to God.

David said, “If I say, MY FOOT SLIPS, Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.”  I make it through life resting in the shelter of the Arms of God.  When I am overcome with things that distress my life, I lift up my eyes to the hills and know that my help comes from the Lord and His comfort and strength bring renewed joy and strength to my life. 

God is our “present help in the time of need,” but sadly too often we fail to remember that or allow His strength to flood our lives.  We struggle and press to “do it” but there are times when we need to “cease striving” and just allow God to be God in our situation. We cannot do what God can do!

If you feel that your foot is slipping do not despair rather rejoice because God’s mercy and grace will hold you if you let Him.  If you are overcome with anxious thoughts and concerns, do not despair but rather rejoice because God’s comforting strength will bring a renewal of joy to your soul if you will allow it.  God wants to bring you out of the struggle and difficulty stronger!

Rejoice in the Lord today and rest in His grace!  Blessings as you go through your day!

Matthew 18:15-20 – “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go, and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’  17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” NKJV

I will, no doubt, rock some people’s boats today in what I write.  Most conflicts are handled other than biblically.  We all know it, yet we continue to do it.  Here Jesus gives us a very clear picture and process through which we are to handle disagreements and conflicts.  It is a directive that we do not follow, in part, because the church of today is ill-equipped to do its part in resolving disputes. 

Jesus tells us that if we are wronged by a brother or sister, we are to go to them directly.  We are not to spread it amongst ourselves and make it a matter of he said/she said and form cliques and divisions.  Our interest should be to resolve the conflict between us and a brother or sister in Christ.  The Lord advises that if we do this and the person hears our plea we have reconciled and gained our brother. 

Jesus takes it to the next level in telling us that if the offender does not hear us, then we are to take one or two more with us and appeal to them again with oversight and support from within the church, and by implication, it would be by godly unbiased voices probably from the eldership. 

The purpose of these additional people is to establish witnesses to what is said and done.  If that fails, then we are to take the matter to the church.  Is that the church as a whole or the eldership of the church?  That is a matter that many disagree on but either way, the matter is made public.  Then if the person who has truly offended or wronged another refuse to hear the plea before the church he is regarded as a heathen and a tax collector.

Then Jesus says something that most take as being an entirely different topic, but the context and content cannot be regarded that way.  He is still talking about someone sinning against another and in the context of two or three witnesses establishing a matter.  He says, “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound on earth and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 

If you bind the offender by agreement that person is bound spiritually in heaven and earth and if you set them free from the offense, they are freed.  Jesus then said, “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”  While I agree this applies to other things it is also absolute that it applies to handling conflict.  This shows how serious God is about resolving conflict and what you do individually and collectively regarding sin and offense within the local body.

Do not let matters of conflict fester and become malignant, address them immediately, properly, and under the guidelines of scripture.  You will find that there is incredible power in this process, and it will be transforming.

May God be with you as you go through your day!