Season 3 of Low in the Water | Matthew 18.15-20 with Mandy Smith

I had a couple of questions written down, but as I started thinking about my questions, I don't really like them that much.

The questions I had were, what principles can we get here and what

What are

Jesus' priorities? And maybe they're important questions, but in a way they keep us a safe distance away from how is this practical and why does this feel so personal?

Yeah, it does feel personal, doesn't it?

It would almost be nice to have a bullet point list of principles, wouldn't it, for conflict resolution?

That would be so much easier and you just follow the bullets and then you're good.

But then there's people involved.

Yeah.

And real offense.

Yeah.

Yeah, and it's so hard when you're offended.

You feel like whatever you want to do is you're in your rights to do because somebody has offended you.

It's hard for you to stop and think maybe I've misunderstood it.

Maybe that person didn't mean it.

Maybe there's some grace to be given even though I feel so offended.

Yeah, I guess that's where something dies in us to understand what Jesus was experiencing on the cross.

But I understand, I know myself when I feel wronged, then you kind of feel justified in whatever feels good to you to lash out or do whatever would just make you feel better.

Yeah, I think.

in the heat of any conflict, I have such capacity for delusion because I think I'm holding something and I am holding something.

I had it today, if I'm honest, and I was holding something so righteous and so legitimate.

But, you know, now that I look back, even with the perspective of a few hours, I realized it was holding me that there was a There was a graceless grip that held me.

Yeah.

Yeah, I almost wish Jesus had added a part about before you go and show him his fault, take some time to pray, go for a walk.

I had a couple of questions written down, but as I started thinking about my questions, I don't really like them that much.

The questions I had were, what principles can we get here and what

What are

Jesus' priorities? And maybe they're important questions, but in a way they keep us a safe distance away from how is this practical and why does this feel so personal?

Yeah, it does feel personal, doesn't it?

It would almost be nice to have a bullet point list of principles, wouldn't it, for conflict resolution?

That would be so much easier and you just follow the bullets and then you're good.

But then there's people involved.

Yeah.

And real offense.

Yeah.

Yeah, and it's so hard when you're offended.

You feel like whatever you want to do is you're in your rights to do because somebody has offended you.

It's hard for you to stop and think maybe I've misunderstood it.

Maybe that person didn't mean it.

Maybe there's some grace to be given even though I feel so offended.

Yeah, I guess that's where something dies in us to understand what Jesus was experiencing on the cross.

But I understand, I know myself when I feel wronged, then you kind of feel justified in whatever feels good to you to lash out or do whatever would just make you feel better.

Yeah, I think.

in the heat of any conflict, I have such capacity for delusion because I think I'm holding something and I am holding something.

I had it today, if I'm honest, and I was holding something so righteous and so legitimate.

But, you know, now that I look back, even with the perspective of a few hours, I realized it was holding me that there was a There was a graceless grip that held me.

Yeah.

Yeah, I almost wish Jesus had added a part about before you go and show him his fault, take some time to pray, go for a walk.