Scripture:
2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14; Matthew 18:15-17
Tue, 15 November 2022

The Place for Church Discipline (1)

Observation:

What do these passages tell us about church discipline?

Deeper Reflection
CONCERNING THOSE WHO WERE “WALKING IN IDLENESS” (V.6), Paul had repeatedly communicated his teaching by word of mouth, personal example and letter. What had been done was more than sufficient. So now, for those who persisted in disobedience, Paul calls for church discipline: “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person…” (v.14a).Consider what the late John Stott said about church discipline on members who are guilty of serious misbehaviour in the church today: “To be sure, many churches nowadays would do nothing. The administration of discipline had fallen into disuse and the thought of reviving it is viewed with distaste.”26 Is this true of us as an intentional disciplemaking church?Church discipline is for those who are “guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolator, reviler, drunkard, or swindler” (1 Cor 5:11), whose conduct is “a public, deliberate and persistent disobedience”27 to God’s Word. The church discipline is “a measure of social ostracism”28: “Do not associate (synanamignumi) with them” (v.14b, NIV). Synanamignumi means “to associate with one another, normally involving special proximity and/ or joint activity, and usually implying some kind of reciprocal relation or involvement”29. Such “social ostracism” is to be carried out only if the culprit remains unrepentant after three rounds of confrontation of grace: first, one on one, then by “two or three witnesses” and lastly by the larger community (Matt 18:15-17). The purpose is “that he may be ashamed” (v.14b) – “to shame them into repentance for the past and amendment of life in the future”30.
26 John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 193 27 John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 193 28 John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 193 29 Johannes P. Louw & Eugene A. Nida, 34.1 30 John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 194
Application:

How will I relate with a fellow believer who lives in sin?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To minister to the spiritually weak wisely in God’s way
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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