If our world has a need for one thing above all things it would be RECONCILIATION! Our nation is deeply divided into “camps” of people
with their feet firmly planted in concrete! We’re told that the threat of
nuclear war with our “enemy,” North Korea is immanent! Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are marked by awkward periods of silence
or outbursts of anger when the conversation even edges toward politics. We’re “bubbled into” our own little kingdoms of personal opinions! Churches are far from spared!
But, as is always the case Scripture is not silent about the subject of reconciliation! The Bible insists on afflicting the comfortable as well as comforting the afflicted!
Moving from the macro to the micro, for some time I’ve been struggling about a deep, wide wall between me and a relative with whom communication has screeched to an uncomfortable halt. Recently, instead of self-righteously propping up my wall of defenses and self-justifications, I asked God for help. Within moments the Spirit pointed me once again to Jesus’ powerful words beginning in Matthew 5:21:
”I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot’ and you might just find yourself into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid’ at a sister, and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. This is how I want you to conduct yourselves in these matters. If you enter your place of worship, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right, then and only then come back and make things right with God.” (The Message)
Precisely the opposite of my mindset! Take care of the log in my eye, and let God deal with the speck in the other person’s eye!
Jesus’ command gives us pause to wonder for a moment what might happen in US, and in our relationships with others if we were to walk the walk, and call a halt to merely talking the talk! The Macro reconciliation problems are way bigger than we can handle. Thank God, God can! But, the burden is on us when it comes to the myriad of relationships in our own backyard!
Prayer: Give us your peace, Lord Christ, as we seek to let you burst the bubble of ego and self-justification that walls us off from others! May we do what you command us to do! AMEN
The Rev. Craig Peel
Retired Minister
Presbyterian Church USA
But, as is always the case Scripture is not silent about the subject of reconciliation! The Bible insists on afflicting the comfortable as well as comforting the afflicted!
Moving from the macro to the micro, for some time I’ve been struggling about a deep, wide wall between me and a relative with whom communication has screeched to an uncomfortable halt. Recently, instead of self-righteously propping up my wall of defenses and self-justifications, I asked God for help. Within moments the Spirit pointed me once again to Jesus’ powerful words beginning in Matthew 5:21:
”I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot’ and you might just find yourself into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid’ at a sister, and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. This is how I want you to conduct yourselves in these matters. If you enter your place of worship, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right, then and only then come back and make things right with God.” (The Message)
Precisely the opposite of my mindset! Take care of the log in my eye, and let God deal with the speck in the other person’s eye!
Jesus’ command gives us pause to wonder for a moment what might happen in US, and in our relationships with others if we were to walk the walk, and call a halt to merely talking the talk! The Macro reconciliation problems are way bigger than we can handle. Thank God, God can! But, the burden is on us when it comes to the myriad of relationships in our own backyard!
Prayer: Give us your peace, Lord Christ, as we seek to let you burst the bubble of ego and self-justification that walls us off from others! May we do what you command us to do! AMEN
The Rev. Craig Peel
Retired Minister
Presbyterian Church USA
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