2498) If you grew up around younger siblings or cousins, you probably heard, I’m telling hundreds of times. After a while, you may have looked over your shoulder and parroted, go ahead. I dare you.

When I think of the words, I’m telling, I think of Matthew 18:15-17. Here we are admonished that if we have a problem with someone, we are to go to them and tell them what is wrong so the situation can be resolved or at least give the offender the knowledge that what they’re doing is hurtful.

The temptation is to go to many others first, telling them what has been done to you. It feels good to have others take your side, even with just a nod in response, but that’s not the message Matthew lays out.

We are commanded to go to the person who has wounded us and talk with them about the situation. Excuses for why we don’t doesn’t justify not obeying. This is a hard command.