Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Corinthians chapter 2:
5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.
6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,
7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Until people are fully immersed in Love, they will do something to grieve you and me. There is a time to punish such actions but as Paul said, forgiveness and comfort are not to be withheld either. When a member of a family has caused immense grief and fellowship is broken, the family must allow righteous judgment to come forth for corrective purposes. However, we must allow Love to prevail and reassure the member that Love is greater than their actions which caused the grief in the first place.
As the saying goes, “We judge everyone else by their actions, but we judge ourselves by our intent.” Each of us needs to be cautious about our views of others. That is why we must always look at the fruit… including our own. Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 7:
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Let us walk and be led by The Holy Spirit when we are wronged by another. Evoking judgment due to an obvious wrong may be necessary but let it be done in the view of restoration. Love covers a multitude of sins as Our Elder Brother can attest to by His Blood. Let us pursue a walk consistent with the high standard established by Our Heavenly Father which is based on Love.