Good Morning.  Here’s Today’s Nugget to chew on:

“Don’t Live In Offense”

Matthew 18:15-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 

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Further Thought: Today’s passage reminds us that offenses will come even from fellow believers. So first, determine if the matter is worth your time and effort or if you should drop it. Just because we take offense doesn’t mean that was the intent. If this is not the case, then take the matter up with the individual who caused the offense. It’s always best to talk with them before you start talking about them to others. If this doesn’t work, we are commanded to take one or more to assist in arbitration. I don’t believe this is about individuals who share only our opinion, but about those who can listen and give an impartial assessment of the situation. Let’s recognize verse 17 above when it speaks of treating the one who refuses to hear like a heathen and a tax collector, it’s not saying we should wash our hands of them. No, it’s reminding us to recognize they are not where they should be on their journey of faith. We are still required to treat them with love and then to pray for them, asking God to send someone else across their path they can receive from according to Matthew 9:38 and 1 Timothy 2:1-4. Finally, verses 18 above remind us that the decision to live in and with an offense is up to us. Heaven will agree with our decision.

Have a great day, and keep chewing on God’s Word.

Additional references: Proverbs 4:20-22; Matthew 22:36-40 and 1 Peter 4:8

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“2026 Declaring the Goodness of God”

Today’s Recommended Reading Isaiah 9