Address It!

Matthew 18:15

"If your brother or your sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over." 

I have heard the saying "The Innocent suffers for the guilty" and I have never agreed with that statement. 

I do not believe that innocent people should deal with the consequences of someone's bad choices.

I'm aware that this tactic is to ward off people from making the mistake again, but I don't agree with them being punished before even committing something that they probably wouldn't have done. 

A warning? Perhaps, but a full own guilty induced punishment? No. 

It is not as encouraging as one thinks and it breeds ground for a person who has been good and on a well-lit path to change course.

"Since you think I'm bad, then I'll be bad then"

"I could never do anything right, so I might as well stop trying"

"I'm always seen for faults, what about the good I have done?"

I have witnessed many times people lashing out at the majority and not confronting the actual culprit that offended them or made the mistake.

Their trust was broken by one person or possibly two, but now everyone that enters their lives after is treated with contempt. 

Their heart was broken by one person and now everyone that tries to be with them is seen as someone who has blood on their hands. 

Do you see where I am going with this?

Misplaced anger and bitterness (although, it should not be anyway), but we spread out these feelings and pointed fingers at everyone besides the one who it should truly be directed at. 

We address the result of the issue, but not the root of it. 

Angry at the reaction, but not at what made the act in the first place.

Why are you always angry?

Why aren't people genuine with you?

Why do you keep finding yourself in this predicament? This kind of drama?

God never allowed all of us to suffer for the guilty, but ensure that one person can save us all. 

That one person took the brunt of the punishment for our sins. Thank God, He didn't allow this to happen, even though in this case we may have deserved it. 

But, He knew that not everyone in the world was bad. There were some good apples in the basket and He wouldn't allow all of us to suffer because of the bad ones. 

I remember Him speaking to Abraham when He was going to destroy the cities Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham questioned Him if He was to found just one person would He still destroy and He stated that if He found just one righteous person He would not bring harm to that place.

Then let's look at the book of Isaiah when it said that the sin of the parents would set the children's teeth on edge, but God did away with that. 

He then told them that to every man will be his own righteousness and own wickedness. No one else will be punished for what another person has done.

He did this because He wanted everyone to have an actual chance for themselves. That there would be no preconception of them. 

I know it is hard to trust others when you have been hurt before. 

You are on the fence about everyone who tries to enter your life, skeptical because you don't know what their motives are. 

Trust me, I know this!

It is taking me so long to accept people and trust them, since being hurt. 

It is difficult to entrust information about myself to anyone because I am constantly waiting for me to hear about it again from someone who I didn't talk to about it. 

It is wearying trying to find out if a person actually is there for you and not secretly hates you. 

But, I learned that it is not ideal for me to live like this. I can't beat everyone with the switch made for one person. All I can do is ask for discernment when it comes to new and even old persons around me and if they are true for me. 

I have to give them a fresh and genuine start. We have to give them a clean slate.

We also have to learn to address the situation that is truly bothering us instead of deciding to just 'cut everyone off. 

My husband always says that "If you give the enemy a chance to crack the door, he's going to open it completely" 

If you don't like how someone has been treating you lately, speak with them. Confront it. 

If you don't like how a situation went down, then address it. 

Sometimes, confronting and coming to terms with someone or something brings it to resolution. It even clarifies misunderstandings. 

Addressing it can help us avoid trying to beat everyone with the same switch. 

Today, let's start addressing the real reasons instead of running around them. 

Let's ask God to grant you wisdom and courage so that you can do it and know how to do it. 

I say this because I am not enticing us to become confrontational. No, not at all, but I do know that most situations are not solved by avoidance. 

If you ignore the tiny mold, then you can't get mad if the whole house collapse from its intrusion. 

Some things and some persons do need to be confronted. Not only to help correct them but for our growth. 

~TheRay