“If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive.”
-Luke 17:3b, NLT
This past week I was reminded of some wisdom I heard years ago from a pastor-mentor of mine. It was advice about dealing with destructive people.
He told me not to to “open the door” wide to an individual if I already know they are likely to wack me.
I needed this reminder. It is hard for me to let relationships go that end poorly.
Maybe you can relate?
The wisdom, though, reminds me that sometimes I just have to accept a person’s choice to be nasty and refuse repentance.
If I already know this is their stance–i.e. to be nasty–it is upon me for opening myself willingly up to their nastiness.
You know the saying:
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
Some people will never be sorry.
Pursuing such people for an apology is both pointless and unhealthy for you. When you know this person is in that category, you are simply inviting further abuse from them by such a pursuit.
