Luke 17:1-4. 

When we took our six-month-old for his shots, he was as happy as could be. He sat on his mother’s lap as the nurse administered the DPT shot. As the needle went in, he gave me a look of betrayal. “What are you letting them do to me?” he seemed to cry out. Pain was not a common experience in his young life. Large tears rolled down his cheeks as his mother tried to comfort him. It was for his good. Sadly, it would need repeating in the months and years ahead.

Rebuke stings, like a shot. I have been on the receiving end of correction. Even when carefully and kindly done, it hurts. Sometimes it is a friend. “Wounds from a friend can be trusted” (Proverbs 27:6). Jesus teaches us to “rebuke,” then “forgive.” Sometimes it must be repeated, perhaps “seven times a day.” Yet, it must be done. Patiently and humbly pressing on.

Like the apostles we pray, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5), “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Courage, my friends.

Author: Duane Brush