You're Not the Boss of MeParaugs

PRAYER:

God, I want to show your love to those around me. Allow me to see when my emotions are preventing me from showing your love to others.

READING:

Undercover Boss

Sometimes destructive emotions disguise themselves as virtues. Fear of rejection, discomfort with conflict, or indifference can disguise themselves as sensitivity and kindness. But we need people to step up and speak into our lives even when it's uncomfortable for them. 

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.” - Matthew 18:15

Who does that? People who care. People who decide discomfort is worth dealing with if that's what it takes to love you. 

Here’s some background for this concept of confronting people in sin.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” - Matthew 18:1

They were each hoping Jesus would point to them. But he did something else.

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 18:2–3

That got their attention.

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble...” - Matthew 18:6

When Jesus said “little ones,” he wasn’t just talking about kids. He was talking about the adults who had begun to follow Him.

“... it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” - Matthew 18:6–7

It's one thing for somebody to get tripped up because something comes along that they have no control over. But woe to the person who causes someone to lose their way. 

“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away.” - Matthew 18:8

If there's anything in your life that has the potential to get you off course—get rid of it.

“It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.” - Matthew 18:9

Take extreme measures while you still have some control to prevent your life from spinning out of control. 

“If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” - Matthew 18:12–14

When you lose something of value and then find it, your emotions are focused on that one thing.

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along… If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” - Matthew 18:15–17

Love is not silent when there's something that needs to be said. If somebody needs to hear from you, don't let your emotions keep you from speaking up. Let love be the boss of you.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” - John 15:12

This is simply doing for others what God through Christ has done for us.

REFLECTION:

Is there someone who needs to hear from you? Are your emotions keeping you from saying something? Remember, love speaks up. How can you let love be the boss of you? 

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