Meditation
 
AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS By: Joseph Stowell
 
As Far As The East Is from the West, so Far Has He Removed Our Transgressions From us.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Psalm 103:12
 
Have you ever noticed how we are more prone to talk about other people’s problems than we are to confront them? Which means that often the last person to know about the problem is the very one who has the problem. Love demands a better way.
 
Because God loved us, He took the initiative to come to us in our sin (Genesis 3:8-24; John 3:16-17). If we love, an important part of that love is the willingness to approach those who have sinned with the intent of restoring them. Since timing is important, we must bathe the encounter in prayer, asking God to provide the right opportunity and receptivity.
 
Galatians 6:1 gives us key instructions about our approach to the person who has sinned. First, we must be in tune with and in fellowship with God-gentle and without bitterness, revenge, or hostility in our hearts.
 
We must be willing to see the problem from the other person’s point of view and be cautious–taking care, lest, in the process, we too fall into sins like anger, bitterness, or sins of the tongue. As we humbly show the person his faults, it is important that we convey love for his best interests and avoid a judgement, “holier than thou” attitude.
 
Matthew 18:15 gives instruction for the procedure to be followed. “Go and show him his fault, just between the two of you” (Mathews 18:15). There is great freedom in the interchange if we can assure the one we are talking to that we have discussed this with no one else!
 
If the person responds, he is restored to God’s fellowship and to ours, and forgiveness removes the sin “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). If the person does not respond, Scripture encourages us to take another person back with us for another meeting, and then to the church if that meeting is unsuccessful (Mathews 18:16-17).
 
What a joy it would be to live among fellow travelers who love each other enough to deal with sins instead of tolerating sin by simply talking about it behind each other’s back.