Dear Ones,
Hope you had a good weekend!  Today we woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland out our window again but is melting quickly. Where is Spring?!! Patience! This morning I cleaned the linen closet, did food prep and went to my exercise class. Looking forward to our walk on the Paul Bunyan as the snow should be gone by then.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Sometimes we have to do the hard thing rather than let things slide along. It’s not always easy but there are times we need to speak up and deal with what is going on that needs correction. Paul had to do that with the Corinthian church as reprimanded them for not disciplining the church member who was guilty of incest. He tells them to exercise church discipline for if his behavior persists it will affect the whole church. Paul exhorted them to do the responsible thing and to deal with it, and they did listen and responded, as they excluded the man from their fellowship. Later the man repents and Paul tells them to forgive and restore him again.
Sometimes we may see our Christian brothers and sisters going down wrong paths and we need to show loving concern. If we just ignore it as they continue to go deeper into sin, we are hardly showing love. We care more about being nice than about helping them. If we are honest with them and ask questions and show concern, it may cause them to think of the ramifications and turn away from what they are doing. Wouldn’t we want others to care enough to do that for us?
It says in Proverbs 27:6(Amplified), “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are lavish and deceitful.” Don’t we want true friends that would correct us if we were going astray?Wouldn’t we also wonder why they didn’t warn us if we kept on in a dangerous direction?
I remember an elder in one of our churches simply asking me a question that caused me to stop and think if I was doing what was best at the time. I knew he was doing it out of love and concern and I learned a lesson through it.
The bottom line is always forgiveness and restoration and not to be judgmental or wanting to be right. Let us care enough to speak up when the Holy Spirit prompts us and then commit the results to Him. Let us also be open to when we need correction and bring it humbly before the Lord.
Challenge for today: Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to speak up when needed and do it in love.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy