A) Have you ever followed this advice? Did you have success?
B) Has other pointed out to you your faults? If so, how did you respond?
C) Have you been a part of a church where the next level occurred? what happened?
“But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”
Matthew 18:16-17 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.18.16-17.NKJV
We often read and hear about the great value to others as we tell our stories. Let’s be great story tellers in 2025!
thedailylily.com 
“B) Has other pointed out to you your faults? If so, how did you respond?”
I will try to answer question B with a story that likens me to an apple tree.
I would say my greatest and bravest helper to point out faults/sins to me has been Sara. She has faithfully taught and corrected me over the years through her written and spoken Biblical lessons, both at retreats, church, the Daily Lily posts and in the day-to-day routines of life.
How did she do this and how did I respond? Some examples: I was challenged to take a hard, sobering look at my heart and character by winter’s “pool of reflection” in her workbook retreat teaching,” Designs of One’s Heart, The Four Seasons”. There, I also learned that seasons come again and again, and that sins and faults would seasonally emerge as God works on me…much like the lesson from her workbook, ‘Dressing for Your Glory…On Pursuing Excellence” that gave lots of examples and analogies to plants (which I can relate to being a plant person). She wrote and taught about the apple tree and what fruit it bears; its diseases; steps to take to maintain a healthy tree, etc.
As an apple tree (illustration only) I desire to bear good fruit. But no apple tree can bear good fruit unless, among other essential things, it is pruned seasonally. Pruning will remove the diseased, useless, and previously useful wood so useful, productive growth can occur next season. Seasonal pruning is a painful time and experience for me. I don’t like it. I am cut back, look ugly, no visible life. But it seems I often have to learn the hard way, and also learn that to humble myself to this kindness (“Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it.” Psalm 141:5), with an attitude of gratitude, not anger or resentment (that was an important lesson for me in Sara’s “The Four Bees – Finding Your Spiritual Gifts”) is the best and only way forward. Forward towards the hope of spring apple blossoms and summer/fall apples for others to harvest and benefit from.
This blog brought to my mind, the recent chapter we read in “The Story”, chapter 12, at my church. It talks about King David and Bathsheba. 2Samuel 12 (NIV) “Nathan Rebukes David
12 The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.
4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”
5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”
7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed youking over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’
11 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”
13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin.You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for[a] the Lord, the son born to you will die.”
The title to this blog sure catches my attention, “How brave are you?” I wish I could definitely say that I am that brave, but I’m not sure I am? If I understand the verses in Matthew here? It seems, as a Christian, we must be this brave? Does my understanding need some correction? 🙏🙏🙏
I’ve delighted in reading the storytelling by both Debi and Tammy over warm coffee on this cold, snowy, icy and windy day in N Va.
They both did great with their storytelling. But, after the warmth of the story and coffee I felt the chill of the day and my coffee was a bit on the cool side as I reflected on my stories from telling and hearing. .
Both stories gave reflections as Debi pointed out from workbook she studied, “pool of reflection.”
Tammy pointed out King David heard the story as told to him by Nathan and was more than ready to wreck havoc on that evil man that did such a terrible thing. It was a heart breaking story that went and goes straight to the heart and soul of the hearer.
Our scripture reading written by Matthew, a disciple of Jesus and, his sharing stories as told by Jesus Christ does go right to the heart and soul of the reader!
Tammy felt the chill like we as the family of God feels, “Am I that brave”?
Yes, we are when we realize love covers a multitude of sins. Jesus taught us through actions and words how to love one another as He loves us.
If we start our new year, 2025 understanding Jesus didn’t tell only one story and go on extended forever vacation. He so loves us He tells one story and by the time we check ✔️ how well we have preformed we hear another. The scripture (below) answers many of our questions. We need daily spiritual care that keeps us telling and sharing stories to keep us aglow in the Spirit.
There is one thing that will not change the heart of our stories, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.13.8.NKJV
“but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Hebrews 3:13 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.3.13.NKJ
“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:25 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.10.25.NKJV
Thanks, Tammy, for sharing this story from the Ch 12 “Story” chapter. And, Sara, I agree with you about what Tammy wrote, “It was a heart breaking story that went and goes straight to the heart and soul of the hearer.” That ‘chill’ sure has a ripple effect when I think on and reflect on this account as well!
And thanks, Sara, for providing those scripture answers and for putting all this in perspective to remind us about our “daily spiritual care.”
yes, Debi, sharing with one another sure helps us, doesn’t it? I was looking at the website Christianity.com and Matthew Henry’s commentary for the Scripture Sara shared above. Look at what it said for Hebrews 3:7-13.
“(Read Hebrews 3:7-13)
Days of temptation are often days of provocation. But to provoke God, when he is letting us see that we entirely depend and live upon him, is a provocation indeed. The hardening of the heart is the spring of all other sins. The sins of others, especially of our relations, should be warnings to us. All sin, especially sin committed by God’s professing, privileged people, not only provokes God, but it grieves him. God is loth to destroy any in, or for their sin; he waits long to be gracious to them. But sin, long persisted in, will make God’s wrath discover itself in destroying the impenitent; there is no resting under the wrath of God. “Take heed:” all who would get safe to heaven must look about them; if once we allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert him. Let those that think they stand, take heed lest they fall. Since to-morrow is not ours, we must make the best improvement of this day. And there are none, even the strongest of the flock, who do not need help of other Christians. Neither are there any so low and despised, but the care of their standing in the faith, and of their safety, belongs to all. Sin has so many ways and colours, that we need more eyes than ours own. Sin appears fair, but is vile; it appears pleasant, but is destructive; it promises much, but performs nothing. The deceitfulness of sin hardens the soul; one sin allowed makes way for another; and every act of sin confirms the habit. Let every one beware of sin.”
Thanks for sharing the commentary, Tammy. Matthew Henry gives us a lot of warnings in what he wrote, and certainly confirms those scriptures Sara posted above from Hebrews.
A couple of the commentary comments that stuck out to me were:
“if once we allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert him.” Reminds me of the hymn we know and sing…”Trust and obey for there’s no other way…” and lets us know the seriousness of not believing/trusting/relying and depending on God. “So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” Hebrews 3:19
And this portion from Matthew Henry:
“And there are none, even the strongest of the flock, who do not need help of other Christians.”…”Sin has so many ways and colours, that we need more eyes than ours own.” Especially good to remember and recall.
Matthew Henry is by most accounts considered an excellent commentary. Often, giving us a door to walk through if we be willing to enter the room where excellence dwell.
It seems often we prefer a mirror where we see and chat a bit about and walk away forgetting what we saw.
Henry explained it well, “Days of temptation are often days of provocation. But to provoke God, when he is letting us see that we entirely depend and live upon him, is a provocation indeed.”