Forgiving

“If your brother or sister sins against you…and if they even refuse to listen to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”  Matthew 18: 15a/17b

The above verses are from one of Jesus’s sermons. It’s all about who and when to forgive.  Many have sadly taken Jesus’ words of treating them as you would a pagan or tax collector to mean boot them out of the church, abandon them, have nothing else to do with them lest their “sin” rub off on us.  If we meditate on His words, however, we realize that Jesus told his identity as the Messiah first to Samaritan. He healed the Roman soldier’s servant. This very story is in MATTHEW…the Tax Collector turned disciple. In this divided world, pray we are able to treat all God’s children as Jesus does. We are His children. Praise God.