Special Tests for Special Purposes – Part 11

The Lord gave clear guidelines for dealing with a brother who sins against us. In the sermon on the Mount He warns, “Agree with your adversary quickly. While you are on the way with him.” Matthew 5:25 NIV “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.”

He closed His model prayer with a solemn warning, “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15 - ESV) In any time of testing we should be careful to check our attitudes and our relationships, to make sure that we are not harboring any bitterness or resentment or unforgiveness in our hearts.

We also need to bear in mind that we cannot have right relationships with the wrong people. Do not be deceived, Paul warns us, “Evil company corrupts good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”