Ministries
Search
| Be Reconciled (Matthew 5:24) |
|
Dear Member of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain, I was not able to attach this week's prayer list. I will send it out separately tomorrow when I return to the office. I will be out of town Monday and Tuesday. Be Reconciled“Leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” –Matthew 5:24It is useless to give offerings to God while you are at enmity with your brother. Jesus said that His followers should be reconciled with anyone who has something against them. The world seeks reconciliation on limited terms. Christians are to be reconciled, whatever it takes. You say, “But you don’t know how deeply he hurt me! It’s unreasonable to ask me to restore our relationship.” Or, “I tried but she would not be appeased.” Jesus did not include an exception clause for our reconciliation. If the person is an enemy, Jesus said to love him (Matthew 5:44). If he persecutes you, you are to pray for him (v. 44). If she publicly humiliates you, you are not to retaliate (v. 39). If someone takes advantage of you, you are to give even more than he asks (v. 41). The world preaches, “Assert yourself.” Jesus taught, “Deny yourself.” The world warns that you will be constantly exploited. Jesus’ concern was not that His disciples be treated fairly but that they show unconditional love to others regardless of how they were treated. Men spat upon Jesus and nailed Him to a cross. His response was our model: “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). If there ever was a command that is constantly disobeyed, it is this mandate to be reconciled. We comfort ourselves with the thought, “God knows that I tried to make things right, but my enemy refused.” God’s word does not say, “Try to be reconciled,” but, “Be reconciled.” Is there someone with whom you need to make peace? Then do what God tells you to do. REFLECTIONSWhen it comes to making things right with others, who comes to mind? What steps could you take this week to reconcile with that person?Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.--Romans 12:1-4 In Christ, Paul Nickel Director of Christian Education Our Savior Lutheran Church |