“Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21-22).

Every language has idioms.  This is one of them in Hebrew.  Seven is the number of perfection.  How many times?  Not just until you are perfect, as if it were about you, but as many times as necessary until your neighbor is also perfect.  It is not about becoming a flawless being.  Lucifer was that before he was cast out of heaven.  It is about being in relationship.  In this age, that can only happen with forgiveness.

Lord, You know how and where I harbor resentments and hold back forgiveness.  I remember things from long ago and I will not let them go.  The lack of forgiveness eats at me.  Teach me to forgive as I have been forgiven.  Let me see how silly it is to hold on to these things which only harm me.  Guide me out of the fog of this age to see that in eternity, there will be all kinds of people and one of the things we will hold in common is being both forgiven and having learned how to forgive.

Forgive me Lord Jesus for not living as You have taught me to live.  Guide me deeper into the gift of faith You have given me.  Teach me how to be one who is forgiving.  In Your goodness, remind me each time I hold on to a grudge to let it go.  Grant me an attitude that is forgiving of others as You always forgive me.  Lead me into a life that forgives as I have been forgiven.  Amen.

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.  For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” Matthew 18:19-20).

Sometimes, we hear this and think that any two will do for those gathered in Jesus.  This is a faith statement.  When two are in union in Christ, as the Father and Son are in union in love, then they will hear the Lord’s will and act upon it.  Two or three, seeking what the Lord is saying will hear as the Lord leads them forward.  Jesus is constantly reminding us that this is all about relationship.

Lord, I need Your help to go deeper into prayer.  Not only in my prayer life, but also in praying with others.  Lord, take me beyond simply asking for stuff to come to the place of being united with You and others in the business of the kingdom.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may humbly come into Your presence and receive the guidance You have for me and others.  Teach me how to pray in agreement with You that Your will be done.

Lord Jesus, there are many things I do not yet understand.  I sometimes have known something for years, but still do not truly understand it.  Help me to go ever deeper into the mysteries of the faith.  Teach me to give way to the Holy Spirit that my prayers may seek the counsel of Your throne in all that I do.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go and help me to be a person of prayer.  Amen.

“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).

When we walk in the love of our Lord, we do what He gives us to do.  This is not about some special power, but it is for the sake of bringing about repentance in one who is not repenting.  If they will not, then leave them to the Lord.  If they will repent, you will have had your part in the redemption of another.  No one will enter heaven who is unwilling to repent, for repentance is where it begins.

Lord, teach me to be cautious in the things I do.  You are asking that I take a step in maturity to care for others as You care for them.  Let me never take this responsibility lightly but lean wholly upon Your guidance in this and for all things.  You must be the One who leads.  You are the judge, but You have called for me to steward the mysteries of the faith.  Help me to be faithful.

Lord Jesus, in Your wisdom, guide me this day to do what You give me to do.  Take me ever deeper into the prayer life You have called me to so that I may do what needs doing with Your guidance.  Keep me from being a sinner who seeks to control and instead, help me to be a steward who seeks what is right for Your kingdom.  You are the author and finisher of faith for all of us.  Help me to be a part of what You are doing.  Amen

“And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:17).

The second part of this teaching is for the sake of the fellowship.  In our day, many have wolf-like behavior because no one will confront them.  Their behavior may be abominable, but we do not confront them.  Remember that the goal is repentance.  Like us, we want them to be a part of the body of Christ and not acting as if they are in charge.  If Jesus is not in charge, it is not the church.

Lord, You have seen abominable behavior over and over.  Help me to not be influenced by the wicked one to think that humility is accepting unacceptable behavior.  Help me to be willing to go whatever length I am able to not only for the sake of my neighbor, but also for the sake of the fellowship in which You have placed me.  You must lead me, for I do not know the heart of my neighbor.

Holy Spirit, guide me to always listen to You.  If You call for me to confront another, or to be one of the two or three that must do so, be the One who guides us.  Help me always to move beyond my place of comfort to do what You are asking me to do.  Through all things, help me to be a part of building up the fellowship of the communion of saints.  Lead me in Your wisdom to do what You give me to do.  Amen.

“Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that on the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be confirmed” (Matthew 18:15-16).

Remember that every confrontation of sin is about the goal of repentance.  This is not about superiority, discovering what sinners do, or seeking some other goal.  It is about restoring the eternal relationship we all have with our Heavenly Father.  The goal here is to show love.  We each need encouragement, even that which comes because we have been confronted by a sister or brother reminding us in love for the sin we have committed.

Lord, first, let me be willing to receive any confrontation for the sake of bringing about repentance.  Then, let me be willing to receive anger if another does not appreciate what I am pointing out.  Above all, let everything be done in love so that I seek what You desire when I dare to step into this situation.  Let me not be a hypocrite who thinks themself superior because I have discovered another sinning.

Lord Jesus, these words You give me are important.  They speak to how we are to love others so that they, like me, are not hindered from staying on the path You have set before us.  Lead me always so that if ever I am in the position of speaking to another about sin, I do so in love with the Holy Spirit directing my words and deeds.  Grow my faith, either by being confronted, or confronting others so that I become more like You.  Amen.

“And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray.  So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish” (Matthew 18:13-14).

The Lord loves us all.  He rejoices when any of His wandering sheep come home.  Our age has ravaged the sheep and so many are wandering.  Many have wandered and are no longer a part of any fellowship.  Some wander and choose only a place that gives them an appearance of faithfulness.  Wolves have ravaged the sheep, and many have been wounded.  Our Lord desires that no one perishes.

Lord, You know how difficult this world is.  We are in a time of great upheaval.  Help me to keep my eyes upon You, for only You know what is coming.  No matter what comes, You knew it would come, so help me to trust that You are leading us through this Valley of the Shadow of Death.  You will bring us home.  Your will is going to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Our Father in Heaven, help me to see that You are with me.  Help me to not wander off the path of righteousness that You have set me on.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to be one who willingly obeys all the commandments You give.  LORD, lead me to reach out to others, for You know those who are Yours.  Through all things, help me to stay close to You and walk in Your ways.  Amen.

“What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is lost?” (Matthew 18:12)

We each understand this, for if there is something of ours that we find missing, we go looking for it.  We do not just throw away or even in our mind dismiss that which is precious to us.  Every human soul is precious to the Lord.  Yes, there is plenty of wickedness, but He loves us none-the-less.  He has pursued you all the days of your life.  When you were off in some other place ignoring Him, He was there.

Lord, I understand that You love each one of us.  You desire that none would perish.  Help me come to the place where I see things through Your eyes.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to help you in going off my usual routine to encounter others whom You are calling to come home.  Just as You came to me, so also, through me, go to others that they too may be found, be given faith, and walk in Your grace.

Lord, You know that I do not think of myself as the one wandering sheep, but there are many times when I have wandered astray.  You have come to take me back to be with You.  Help me to not wander.  As one who has wandered, help me to reach out to those who are wandering in this world so that I may share with them You who is the One we all need and are looking for.  Lead me always, Lord, and help me to stay close to You.  Amen.

“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones; for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

Every human is an image bearer.  Do not look down upon anyone.  In the eyes of the Lord, they are equal and are those whom He has made and loves.  We are each unique and have the gifts the Lord gives us, but we are equally beloved.  Do not think that one is better than another, for the Lord has purpose for each of our lives.  Children may like or dislike certain others, but they are often very receptive to others and make friends easily.

Lord, I do judge others, and I have been caught up in the “I am better than you” attitude that many have.  When I meet someone that I think superior, I think “I’m as good as you.”  Help me to move away from this wickedness and to the place where I see that each person is who they are and that You love us all equally.  Guide me out of the ways of the world and into the way of eternity.

Lord Jesus, You have told us plainly things that are right and true.  You have given me the instructions I need to walk farther along the path of righteousness.  Lead me, O Lord, to humbly walk in the direction You have set before me, loving all whom I meet, and knowing that You are the Lord of all.  Take from me any attitude that is either inferior or superior and help me to live faithfully in this life which You have given me.  Amen.

“And if your hand or your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or without a foot, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.  And if your eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell” (Matthew 18:8-9).

Why carry around the things that hurt or maim you?  The Lord is not talking about us disfiguring ourselves, but about letting nothing get in the way of our walk with Him.  He who is faithful will lead us all the days of our life.  Walk humbly with the Lord and let nothing get in the way.  Yes, sometimes, like an amputation, it will be painful to see the old Adam killed, but the Lord will stop at nothing to save you.

Lord, I often do not take this faith You have given me as seriously as I should.  Guide me in Your goodness to understand that You have given me the words of eternal life and that You will stop at nothing to prepare me to live that life.  I need Your help to not only understand, but to realize that this is truly a matter of eternal life and death.  Lead me so that I become willing to do whatever it takes to be Your disciple.

Holy Spirit, go deep within me and help me to begin to understand what it means to truly follow in the footsteps of Jesus.  Help me to be willing to cut off whatever part of my life that gets in the way of me becoming what You will make of me.  Aid me to learn how to keep my eye on the prize of my salvation and to boldly walk in the way of faith.  Lead me to avoid all the obstacles that will get in the way.  Amen.

“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes!” (Matthew 18:7)

The world is often placing before us things that will cause us to go astray.  Be wary of the way of the world.  Do not buy into the lies of this age.  With stealth and shrewdness, be obedient, but do not believe all that you are told.  Believe rather what the Lord says.  A child often has more wisdom in discerning than many adults.  Listen to the Holy Spirit and be guided by what is right and fitting for every situation.

Lord, I am unable to discern all the fraud and lies that bounce around in our hurried world.  Give me eyes and ears that discern so that I may obey Your counsel.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to walk humbly under Your guidance so that I know garbage when I see it.  Through all things, continually remind me that You know what I am facing, and that You have a plan for my next steps.

Holy Spirit, help me to always be aware of and listen to You as You guide me through the stumbling blocks of this age.  I need Your guidance to keep me from falling into the pit of lies and deception which are all around me.  Despite what others may think or say, help me to remain faithful to Your calling now and always.  Speak Your word to me that I may have understanding and wisdom.  Amen.