Keep On Forgiving

Keep on Forgiving

If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive. Luke 17:3-4

I don’t know about you, but rebuking isn’t really my style. For those who can do that, good for them. It has a way of getting right to the point and bringing whatever the issue is that needs addressing and resolving—through repentance or forgiveness—to the forefront immediately.

I’m a little more indirect in my approach, and yet I try to give constructive, direct feedback where warranted if we get to that place in the conversation. But it’s not something I enjoy, and so a lot of times I’ll dance around it for a while hoping that the issue resolves itself, that the other person repents of the misdeeds or missteps and figures out what corrective action he or she needs to take.

My preferred modus operandi is to help people hit their target. When I was coaching, there were other members of my staff whose personalities lent themselves better to a more direct approach when the team needed constructive feedback or individuals needed to be singled out and shown the error of their ways.

Sometimes, however, people simply don’t hit their targets. They fall short and worse yet, choose to fall short of what God has created for them. This often happens because they allow things that are destructive or distracting to take hold of their lives, or they choose to do less than they know they are able to do with the gifts and abilities God has given them. Forgiveness is always warranted and empowering.

In other instances, they have lost interest in the original target they selected or the goals they were trying to accomplish. The key then is to get them to select or reselect the correct target or goals for their lives. More often than I like I need to help them assess what changed in their mind-set. Instead of rebuking or criticizing them, I try to encourage or persuade them to consider a new direction.

What about you? How do you handle issues that you’d prefer to ignore but you know would escalate if they are not talked through? Have you ever been the person who was confronted? How was the situation resolved? I hope it was with an attitude of repentance and a response of forgiveness.

Uncommon Key > You can’t turn a blind eye to sin because sin separates you from God and others. It festers and can do irreparable harm to your relationship. Is there something you need to confess right now to God or a person you have sinned against and ask forgiveness?