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“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed heaven.” - Matthew 18:18
Christians have a flighty relationship when it comes to conflict. When we are faced with the need to confront a brother or sister in our lives, many of us wish we had wings. Some of us choose to ignore or escape. Or we choose to train our eyes on offense. We pluck out the faults of our opponents. We spread the issue to others, hoping that flocking together in turmoil will somehow bring flight to the burden in our hearts. When in reality, we simply try to hide the fragility in our souls we inevitably feel. But what if there was more?
Jesus does not just promise His invaluable presence, but His blessing of our decisions if they are in the context of obedience. When we finally choose to rest on our feet instead of spreading our wings to the distance that feels more comfortable, when we train our eyes on our own hearts to better listen to those of others, when we let closeness of Christ and community surround us, we will be able to see clearer and stand out in a world that assigns birds to the sky and wine to the glass.
In Matthew 18, Jesus completely reframes the disciple’s view of greatness (18:1 - 14). He uses illustration and instruction to explain the responsibility of the disciple to deal with their flesh by cultivating humility, a childlike spirit, treating others as image-bearers of Christ, cutting sin out of our hearts, and not causing others to stumble. Jesus explains the seriousness of sin against God, causing another to sin, and the immense joy when the disobedient find their way again.
As we read closer towards verse 18, Jesus explains that by keeping this disciplined eye on our character, it will give us the posture to deal with inevitable confrontation in a Godly manner. However, because our God is merciful and aware of our human weaknesses, He offers us verse 18 as assurance for His children. Jesus reminds us of His presence amidst the responsibilities He has given us. If we follow these instructions, uncomfortable as they may be, to the best of our abilities, God’s presence and authority will not leave us, whether the circumstance resolves as we hope it will or not.
Prayer: “Father, teach me how to hold love and truth in the same breath in the uncomfortable areas of my life. Let me speak and act from a heart that is aligned with you over my own comfort, and give me the courage to trust in your authority, whether I understand the outcome or not. Thank you for being generous with your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.”