Taking Responsibility to Make Peace
Reconciliation is Important
Jesus taught many principles that are difficult to live. Most of these principles set a high expectation for each individual to take responsibility.
Even in situations where the bad guy has perpetuated wrongs, the one being wronged is given a mechanism and response to take control of our response and attitude toward these things.
Jesus was saying, “You are not a victim.”
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:43-45
In every circumstance, Jesus called everyone to rise above the circumstance and do what one can to rise above and be the better person.
The following verse challenges us to consider a powerful lesson.
” Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
Worshipping God without seeking peace with others falls flat.
This principle is found throughout the new Testament.
Paul taught on this issue using a very difficult story in scripture.
The point he is making is, if you don’t make peace with others, you will not have peace with God.
Hebrews 12
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
What is a root of bitterness? It is the result when someone refuses to forgive others their trespass. Rather being a vessel of grace that blesses others, one becomes a bitter root that poisons the tea with everyone that fellowships with you.
Unless they refuse to drink in that and seeks to pray for your error.
Thank God for those intercessors that seek to rescue us from the bitter stew that would destroy us.
If I know someone is angry at me, I should feel responsible to do what I can to make peace. If they refuse, I can, with sincerity, worship God and know I have done what I could and should to make peace.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Matthew 5:9