Luke 17:1-5
The holidays have arrived. As a Pastor and a father, I must balance the work of the ministry with the joy of having family nearby. When my kids were little, we would try to get them near their grandparents, aunts and uncles. As they are grown now, they come to us.
The arrival of the holidays also marks the arrival of family and relationships that are either encouraging, tolerated, or, at the worst point, broken. We live in a world where broken relationships happen, and it becomes a struggle to forgive one another. I have seen people revel in their broken relationships, making bold proclamations about black sheep, waiting for people to leave, and discussing who they wish wouldn’t come to family gatherings.
These statements reveal the same thing, that we have broken relationships that need restoration. Jesus called believers to the task of forgiveness, the disciples recognized that without God it was nearly impossible to do. Luke 17:1-5 states:
1 He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!2 "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.3 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.4 "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him."
5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
Jesus recognized that sin and broken relationships were inevitable. He called that brokenness a stumbling block. This block is something that stands in the way of our growth in Christ and in our relationships to one another. This brokenness needs restoration, healing, and hope.
If we choose to live in or with sin without forgiveness and restoration, we are told that it would be better for us to have a millstone tied around our necks and be cast into the sea. We know that there will be broken relationships, we are sinners and our sin has an affect and effect on others. When others hurt us we have been called to forgive, when we break relationships with others we want forgiveness. Jesus tells us to forgive.
As much as I guard my heart and protect my emotions from being hurt by others, it will happen. Jesus clarifies for us to be on guard against our own sin and to not allow other’s sin to go unanswered. It is His goal that sinners repent and relationships be restored through a loving rebuke and extended forgiveness.
At Thanksgiving, Christmas, the New Year we will see people that we live in relationship with, some of those relationships are broken. Being able to restore those relationships may take an act of God, ask Him to increase your faith in bringing about repentance. The gatherings we join in can be ones where we allow past hurts to dominate our emotions or we can start today by asking God to increase our faith. Our faith relies upon Him to do the work within us and others to make forgiveness complete.