Warn a Brother

Do not regard him as an enemy, nut warn him as a brother.

It is so easy to run away when the lives of people around us get messy. If we watch someone living a life of sin, it's easy to hang out on the sidelines, judging them from a safe distance. What's not easy is doing what Jesus would have done; put yourself in their lives and don't leave until they are back on track. Convict them. Help them. Steer them back to the straight and narrow.

God does not want us to condemn the people of the world, either believers or non-believers. When we are witnessing, this is doubly true. Those who are lost have a lot of sin and junk to deal with. It is not helpful to point it out from any place but love. Nobody likes to air their dirty laundry for everyone, but they will listen to you if you are talking in love. People want to be loved and not judged. Fortunately, I know somebody who is very good at this.

Even though I've totally been this person, I hate to see the "Holier than thou" Bible-beaters who go around yelling doom and gloom on anyone and everyone. There message isn't a lie, but it's still far from the Truth. Though the world is black and white, not everyone can see or believe this. If you start forcing that on someone, they will be turned off. But if you come to them in love and with nothing but a desire for their eternal well-being, they may listen.

Christianity stopped being about you the second you let Jesus into your heart. It no longer matters about the person called "me". We are called to serve others and live as one. I has no place among the Church.

Lord, show us how to live in love. Let love be the backbone of everything we do. Let us forget all other things as we seek to know You more. Let our own desires melt away as we seek to love You first. Let the needs of others supercede our own needs. Let our own desires be far from our minds. Let Your will be first in my heart. 

Amen. Amen. Amen.