Extend the Cycle

## Strange Stuff

Lastly, we spoke of not spreading sin to others. In a sense, Jesus’ words “Pay attention to yourselves!” means “rebuke yourself” before you do this. The surrounding verses hinge on that statement and it now turns outwardly. If your brother sins, rebuke him. “Rebuke” means “to rate or tax with fault” or “to award merited penalty”; so call sin what it is and attach it to who it goes to. Then, if he repents, just forgive him...again and again and again... “Repent” means “to change the mind; the thinking about something”. Notice repent means to change your thinking, not your ways; your ways will follow eventually. “I repent,” is another way of saying, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me for what I did. It was wrong.” “Forgive” is a word that encompasses the concepts of “sending away” or “letting go of”; of what? Of the debt owed. Don’t cause others to sin. Forgive them when they do.

## Stranger Stuff

What’s so strange is we don’t see a lot of self-rebuke among Jesus’ followers. Repentance by definition can take years if it ever occurs at all. And passing around forgiveness doesn’t flow so freely between people as it does from God. But by His command He expects us to rate the sin; tax it to the person it goes to. Then that person should change their thinking about it. But Jesus, forgiveness being passed around? It’s almost like everyone’s getting along. Everyone’s helping everyone to become better people, and no one’s getting mad or offended. Imagine if the Church worked this way! Do this imagination exercise and put yourself in it: a 1st brother approaches a 2nd and points out what they’re doing wrong. The 2nd

agrees with him and says, “I want to change this about me.” They forgive each other in all ways and become closer brothers in Christ. Or: A 1st brother approaches a 2nd and points out what they’re doing wrong. The 2nd gets defensive of their self and their sin. An argument starts. A wall is built. A grudge is established, and glares are exchanged passing in hallways (at church) for the next 15 years. Which one sounds more like what you’ve experienced? like what you’ve done? Did you imagine yourself as the 1st or 2nd person? In the 1st or 2nd scenario?

## Self-Check

The rebuke, repent, forgive cycle started with God to you who believe. With God, you were the 2nd person in the 1st scenario. Any other position leaves you unsaved. What can we do? You can hope this will spread, but you can only guarantee the work with yourself really. Rebuke yourself. Repent your thinking. His Forgiveness waits. Then extend the cycle to others.

## Restored