Rebuke to Restore
Prayer 365 // 5 Keys to Forgiveness (Day 2)
More from this week:
Today's Scripture:
“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.” - Luke 17:3 NIV
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. - Proverbs 27:5-6 NIV
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. - Proverbs 27:5-6 NIV
Today's Devotional:
Our theme for this week of devotion and prayer is the "5 Keys to Forgiveness." This is a continuation from Sunday's message titled "The Rhythm of Forgiveness." And with these keys, we are going to open the door of our hearts to God as we forgive to be forgiven.
These are the 5 Keys to Forgiveness:
Today, we're focusing on the second key, rebuke. Perhaps you’re thinking what about grace? Isn’t a rebuke on the opposite end of the spectrum compared to grace? My answer is no, it’s not. I can see why you would be alarmed but the need to rebuke does not cancel or replace the need for grace. Instead, the two must work together in partnership.
In our text, Luke 17:3, we find Jesus talking to His disciples about forgiveness and faith. In this teaching, Jesus instructs us to do two things that I want to encourage you to do in your life regularly. The first thing is if someone sins against you, rebuke them. To rebuke someone is to reprove which means "to express disapproval of.” Essentially, Jesus is saying when someone offends you, make it known to that person that you have been offended. This should be done clearly and with grace. Many of us are holding things against people who don't even know that they wronged us. And after their repentance, He then tells us to forgive them.
Again, the need to rebuke does not replace the need for grace, instead, the two should work together in partnership. A rebuke is not meant to be a one-sided lashing, instead, it's an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation. Here's an example of this in a conversation with my wife, Chanell, and I:
Chanell: "Hey, yesterday I called you yesterday and you were very short with me, I felt as though you didn't want to be bothered."
Enrique: "I know, I'm so sorry, I was having a really tough day. I had found out earlier that my schedule is changing at work and now we have to get a new car or I'm going to have to catch a Lyft to work."
Chanell: You know what, I didn't even realize that's what it was, thanks for letting me know.
You see that was an example of a meaningful conversation that came after a rebuke. It wasn't her telling me off, but her letting me know what I had done and how it made her feel. Now the rebuke has given us an opportunity to gain understanding, because in all thy getting we should get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).
When we rebuke one another this protects and strengthens our relationships. Again, when we rebuke one another, including our spouse, family, friends, co-workers - this protects and strengthens our relationships. But when we choose not to rebuke we actually cause damage to our relationships. We cause damage to our connection when we refuse to bring up what bothers us. This is why an open rebuke is better than a love that’s not expressed. Proverbs 27:5-6 (NIV) says “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." I don't need you to act like everything ok, but I need you to be honest with me and tell me what's wrong. Because if you don't tell me what's wrong or what I did, we can't fix it!
A lot of us have marriages that are hurting right now because we won't say what's wrong to our partner. We've been bottling it up, holding onto it for days, weeks, and even months and years and they don't even know what they did. You've got to say something. We know that an open rebuke is better than a love that’s not expressed because the Father corrects those He loves, therefore correction is an expression of love (Proverbs 3:12).
Lastly, repent before you rebuke (read it again). Get the log out of your own eye before you bother the speck in someone else's (Luke 6:42). Repentance removes the speck so that we can see with clarity. This also helps with displacing or removing the spirit of offense - where we get offended easily. Perhaps what they said is true and it was said to help you but you couldn't see it because your vision was obstructed, blocked by your own sin, or perhaps hindered by your past traumas. Repentance keeps us open to God’s cleansing power, no matter the tool He uses to do it. Essentially, you must be willing to see the possibility of your own error.
I'm praying for you and with you,
Pastor Enrique Brooks
These are the 5 Keys to Forgiveness:
- Give Grace
- Rebuke
- Forgive Deeply and Quickly
- Forgive even if they don’t repent
- Pray for them
Today, we're focusing on the second key, rebuke. Perhaps you’re thinking what about grace? Isn’t a rebuke on the opposite end of the spectrum compared to grace? My answer is no, it’s not. I can see why you would be alarmed but the need to rebuke does not cancel or replace the need for grace. Instead, the two must work together in partnership.
In our text, Luke 17:3, we find Jesus talking to His disciples about forgiveness and faith. In this teaching, Jesus instructs us to do two things that I want to encourage you to do in your life regularly. The first thing is if someone sins against you, rebuke them. To rebuke someone is to reprove which means "to express disapproval of.” Essentially, Jesus is saying when someone offends you, make it known to that person that you have been offended. This should be done clearly and with grace. Many of us are holding things against people who don't even know that they wronged us. And after their repentance, He then tells us to forgive them.
Again, the need to rebuke does not replace the need for grace, instead, the two should work together in partnership. A rebuke is not meant to be a one-sided lashing, instead, it's an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation. Here's an example of this in a conversation with my wife, Chanell, and I:
Chanell: "Hey, yesterday I called you yesterday and you were very short with me, I felt as though you didn't want to be bothered."
Enrique: "I know, I'm so sorry, I was having a really tough day. I had found out earlier that my schedule is changing at work and now we have to get a new car or I'm going to have to catch a Lyft to work."
Chanell: You know what, I didn't even realize that's what it was, thanks for letting me know.
You see that was an example of a meaningful conversation that came after a rebuke. It wasn't her telling me off, but her letting me know what I had done and how it made her feel. Now the rebuke has given us an opportunity to gain understanding, because in all thy getting we should get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).
When we rebuke one another this protects and strengthens our relationships. Again, when we rebuke one another, including our spouse, family, friends, co-workers - this protects and strengthens our relationships. But when we choose not to rebuke we actually cause damage to our relationships. We cause damage to our connection when we refuse to bring up what bothers us. This is why an open rebuke is better than a love that’s not expressed. Proverbs 27:5-6 (NIV) says “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." I don't need you to act like everything ok, but I need you to be honest with me and tell me what's wrong. Because if you don't tell me what's wrong or what I did, we can't fix it!
A lot of us have marriages that are hurting right now because we won't say what's wrong to our partner. We've been bottling it up, holding onto it for days, weeks, and even months and years and they don't even know what they did. You've got to say something. We know that an open rebuke is better than a love that’s not expressed because the Father corrects those He loves, therefore correction is an expression of love (Proverbs 3:12).
Lastly, repent before you rebuke (read it again). Get the log out of your own eye before you bother the speck in someone else's (Luke 6:42). Repentance removes the speck so that we can see with clarity. This also helps with displacing or removing the spirit of offense - where we get offended easily. Perhaps what they said is true and it was said to help you but you couldn't see it because your vision was obstructed, blocked by your own sin, or perhaps hindered by your past traumas. Repentance keeps us open to God’s cleansing power, no matter the tool He uses to do it. Essentially, you must be willing to see the possibility of your own error.
I'm praying for you and with you,
Pastor Enrique Brooks
Did you know that Thryve Church prays together 365 days a year? Join us Monday-Friday at 6:30am & Saturdays at 8am for "Prayer at the Altar" by dialing 339- 207-7471 and then join us Sundays at 11am for Worship Service! Learn More