Luke 17:1-6

Luke 17:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you."

Woe to those who cause others to sin; woe to us who are conduits of sin. We must be careful how we live. Although we might handle something rather well in our lives, such as drinking alcohol, if we lead others (especially our children) into dereliction, we do something terribly wrong. We might gather with friends to play cards for pennies, not ever considering it real gambling, but if our sons or daughters see this and become involved with "real" gambling on the internet or in casinos and lose their ability to stop, their lives will be affected catastrophically. Even more dangerous than these activities to little ones or young Christians are the attitudinal sins mentioned among the works of the sinful nature in Galatians, chapter 5: impurity; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy. If we harbor such sins in our lives, we will sow disruptive seeds into the young and immature who emulate us. Jesus says woe to us who do such things. Sin, like flu, spreads easily, and we should seek cleansing from God. In the above passage, Jesus says we should judge what we sow. If it is bad seed, we should stop and no longer allow sinful attitudes or activities to flourish in our lives. We should always forsake sin and seek righteousness through Christ.

Jesus says if people sin against us, we should forgive them if they repent. Since sin hurts and is destructive, such forgiveness is hard for us at times. If someone rages against us or performs an act of impurity towards us or some other sin, we are hurt: our natural desire is to strike back. Jesus asks us to confront the sinner and to forgive when he or she repents. If this sinful activity continues, we must forgive as many times as necessary. The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” Otherwise, how can we forgive so often when we are but humans. Knowing all things are possible through faith, Jesus says, If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it will obey you. Therefore, we can forgive, we can start over, we can make that which is wrong, right.

Jesus did not ask us to tolerate silently the sins done against us. We can rebuke the carriers of sin, but we should forgive them as they repent. If those who harm us fail to repent, we should continue to live in faith as Christians, not as brutes or destructive people. We should love people, even when they do not ask forgiveness. Jesus instructs us to love even our enemies. Enemies do not ask forgiveness; they take advantage of their foes. But Christians are not to live as the world does. Just as Jesus asked the Jews to go the extra mile with the hated Roman soldiers, we should go the extra mile with those who take advantage of us. Such actions seem difficult for us, even impossible. We need the same grace and mercy God showered on us when we were yet sinners. We need the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit. When words of hate and retribution for our enemies assail us, we must heed the Spirit's gentle voice. Through Christ, we are the light of the world, the salt of the earth. We should make a difference in a world of sin and darkness. Therefore, let us make every effort not to lead others (especially our children) into sin, and when others sin against us, may we tenderly forgive. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) As we pick up the cross and follow Jesus, WE ARE CHRIST'S BODY HERE ON EARTH. If you are struggling today with a sin problem or lack of forgiveness, seek the One who loves you, and He will set you free to walk uprightly and to do his perfect will.