Loving God of health and healing, be with those whose lives need Your divine touch this day; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Matthew 18: 15 "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him - work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. 16 If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. 17 If he still won't listen, tell the church. If he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love. 18 "Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. 19 When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. 20 And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." (The Message)
Someone once said, "Where two or three are gathered, there's bound to be trouble soon enough!" Sadly, that's true. And it's also true in the church. Notice that Jesus talks about "fellow believers" not getting along and hurting each other. Notice that Jesus also talks about how this can best be worked out. Honest communication, give-and-take, compromise, confession, whatever it takes. Work it out. And if that doesn't work involve the church and if that doesn't work, you start over, offering God's forgiving love. Notice the powerful statement about how long words can last: "What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this." Yikes. We know that to be true. You and I have heard damaging words that we have carried to this day. Anything that triggers a reminder hurts again and again. Imagine how different it is for words that catch someone by surprise that help someone or boost their feelings. Those "tapes" can be played again and again for good. And notice that when two agree on something and make it a prayer, God goes into action on the matter. And then what Jesus said is better than what was first stated above, "When two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." Amen.
PRAYER: Loving God, forgive me the times I have said something against someone. Help my words to be the kind that last for good for all eternity in the lives of those who need to hear them. May my words be of love and encouragement and support. May my words make someone's life a litte brighter and better today. And may the presence of another believer be an occasion for a celebration of Jesus, in Whose name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
PS Prayers for Alisha Purdy Carrizalez, daughter of Rev. & Mrs. Steve (Vicki) Purdy who is undergoing surgery this morning here in Corpus Christi.
