COMMANDS33 (Reconciled): Goodbook 07-23-15

One of our challenges for 2015 is to learn and live all 50 commands of Jesus. Jesus told us that following his commandments is a way to love him and a way for his love and his joy to fill our lives (John 15:9-12). In his Great Commission, Jesus tells his followers to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything he commanded us (Matthew 28:19-20). So each week in this year we are learning and living one command of Jesus. Here is our command for this week...

Week 33:

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to that person; then come and offer your gift,” (Matthew 5:23-24).

Application:

We tend to carry two garbage bags with us throughout our lives. In one garbage bag we have bitterness and resentment from the wrongs committed against us. In the other bag we have guilt and regret for the wrongs we have committed against others. God has made a way for us to be free of both bags through reconciliation.

Reconciliation means to restore a relationship and bring two estranged parties back together. The Good News is that we have been reconciled to God through what Jesus has done for us. In his second letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul shared this Good News. He wrote, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” Jesus took our sin upon himself so that our sin would not be counted against us and so we could be restored to a right relationship with God.

We have the opportunity to share this Good News with others in two ways. First, we get to share the “message” of reconciliation by telling others about the Good News. Second, we get to share the “ministry” of reconciliation by living the Good News in our relationships.

The second way – ministry of reconciliation – is probably the harder of the two. But we have to remember, even this is Good News. God is giving us a way to be free of all the baggage. When we hang on to either garbage bag – bitterness or guilt – it weighs us down and hinders our relationship with God. That’s why Jesus made a big deal about being reconciled with others. It is such a big deal that we should deal with it as soon as we recognize it, even if that is right in the middle of giving God an offering during worship.

The guys in my small group have been reading the Resolution for Men. In a recent chapter, we were challenged to reconcile with those we have wronged. We were given three suggestions for how to reconcile:

1. Pray beforehand for the humility, the words, and the favor of the other person. Pray for them to have compassion and mercy.
2. Focus on their pain and don’t blame. Your apology is not about what guilt has done to you or what they have also done wrong. It’s about what your sin has done to them.
3. Make it up to them. Giving some type of gift can be significant in communicating that you value them. “A gift given in secret soothes anger,” the Bible says (Proverbs 21:14) – not in manipulating, but letting the person see some tangible proof of your sorrow and desire not to do this again.

Sometimes reconciliation is not possible because the other party is unwilling. Still, it is up to us to do everything in our power to work toward this goal. In another letter, Paul wrote, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone,” (Romans 12:18).

Is there anyone who has something against you? Is there anyone whom you have wronged and not yet made it right with? Stop what you are doing (even if you are in the middle of worship). Reflect on the three steps above. Then, go and be reconciled with them!

Share your comments and application ideas…