Courageous Conversations

Esther 1-2; Psalms 150; Luke 17 

“’So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times comes back to you and says,” I repent,” forgive him.’ The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’”

Luke 17:3-5

It requires courage and faith to rebuke a brother or sister in Christ when they sin, and in particular when they sin against us.

How do we respond when we have been hurt?

We easily withdraw rather than engage in courageous conversations. When the hurtful behavior is a pattern, Jesus still calls us to forgive. Confronting sinful behaviors in our own lives requires courage, humility, and grace. However, that process of sanctification gives us faith to believe God can also transform the lives of others in the body of Christ. Courageous conversations set us and others free from bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger. While forgiveness is costly, unforgiveness is even costlier.

Which relationships is the Lord inviting us to pursue in courageous conversations?

“Lord Jesus, you are full of grace and truth toward me. Fill me with grace and truth toward others, for your glory.”