It is hard to imagine that a person could walk through life without having any personal conflict – no arguments with family members, disagreements with spouses, frustration with co-workers or with people with different views. Most of us, if we have been on this earth for a while, understand that a certain level of conflict is inevitable – but it can be a healthy growth process if dealt with correctly.
“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 them; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24(NIV)
Jesus comes right out and says that our relationship with God can never be separated from our relationships with each other. Having a good relationship with God means
we take the steps we need to take to be on good terms with the people we live and work with everyday.
If we want to slip into church or check it out on-line on a regular basis for the spiritual refocus and spiritual food we receive, we need to see the connections between
church and our daily life, between God and our spouse, between God and our children, between God and our friends, and God and perfect strangers.
Jesus gives us two actions to take when we are in the wrong and need to make things right.
1. Take Initiative In Making Things Right
There have been times in my life when I knew I did something wrong and waiting until the other person I offended came to me to talk about it.
Jesus teaches the opposite of that response. Jesus tells us to get to the other person when we are the offender. The situation calls for initiative on our part.
If there is something between you and someone else and you were the offender, take initiative to make it right. When you do that–you take away any chance Satan has to
destroy a relationship.
2. Keep It Between You and the Individual
The Bible is crystal clear on this. If there is a problem that you caused with another person, keep it between you and that person. Avoid the temptation to blame, make
excuses, or build a group of supporters who are on “your side.”
Many relationships are fractured because someone, in an effort to defend themselves, talked to everyone BUT the person who they offended. Love someone enough to keep
the situation between you and the other person, and love them enough to seek to make things right regardless of fault.
And What Does Jesus Say Will Be the Result of Making Things Right When We Offend?
We can have a clear conscience before God–we can approach God knowing we have done all we can to make things right. Our hearts are free from guilt and
shame.
We restore a relationship that might have been broken or lost–the relationship can move toward being restored. We show love. We bring issues we have
caused out of the dark and into the light and ask for forgiveness.
The Bottom Line
Life is all about relationships: Us and God, us and others, us and our friends, us and our family, us and our co-workers, etc. Walking in the Spirit, walking in God’s plan
