Note: This one blew me away because it speaks directly to my heart and situations I have been dealing with.
Devotional for January 17.
Be Reconciled!
"Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." -Matthew 5:24
It 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 the person is an enemy, Jesus said to love him (Matt. 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 are treated. Men spat upon Jesus and nailed Him to a cross. His response was our model: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
If there were ever 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.
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This particular devotional comes at a time when I really need it. Just another reason that I believe in reaffirmation. A struggle that I was having with an enemy I mentioned in an earlier blog has been absolved and I feel that this is just divine reaffirmation for me and for her. I think it shows that we are on the right track. It couldn't be more obvious if God came down Himself and told me to my face, there's no denying that this devotional is no coincidence! However there is another person with whom I desperately need to make peace, the problem is that I am just as desperately afraid to try. Months ago I told her that I had forgiven her for what she did regarding my marriage, and at that point I truly thought I had. But as the days and weeks passed I began to feel an anger so great for her and what she'd done that it turned into hatred. At this point I believe that I am past the point of hatred and have begun to forgive but am not quite sure how to continue from this point.
This woman hurt me more than anyone ever has, what she did was beyond just deceitful, manipulative and spiteful so like the devotional says I've really been feeling like it's unreasonable to ask me to make peace with her, but that's exactly what God is doing. The problem here is that I've tried and failed. She wants nothing to do with me, and in many ways I don't blame her. And to be honest I want nothing to do with her, but I feel a much higher calling from God to finally lay this all to rest.
My biggest fear is that contacting her will prompt her to again contact my husband, which she has always done in the past, and I just want to bury all this and forget it. But I suppose part of healing is experiencing some of the pain in order to get past it. So I suppose we will see if I can get past this fear in order to repair my heart and my soul, and quite possibly hers as well.
*Special note: Cyndy, I am very glad that we have made it to this point of reconciliation and peace, I really think this is what God intends for us, friendship after all this time. =]
Devotional for January 17.
Be Reconciled!
"Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." -Matthew 5:24
It 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 the person is an enemy, Jesus said to love him (Matt. 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 are treated. Men spat upon Jesus and nailed Him to a cross. His response was our model: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
If there were ever 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.
*************************************************
This particular devotional comes at a time when I really need it. Just another reason that I believe in reaffirmation. A struggle that I was having with an enemy I mentioned in an earlier blog has been absolved and I feel that this is just divine reaffirmation for me and for her. I think it shows that we are on the right track. It couldn't be more obvious if God came down Himself and told me to my face, there's no denying that this devotional is no coincidence! However there is another person with whom I desperately need to make peace, the problem is that I am just as desperately afraid to try. Months ago I told her that I had forgiven her for what she did regarding my marriage, and at that point I truly thought I had. But as the days and weeks passed I began to feel an anger so great for her and what she'd done that it turned into hatred. At this point I believe that I am past the point of hatred and have begun to forgive but am not quite sure how to continue from this point.
This woman hurt me more than anyone ever has, what she did was beyond just deceitful, manipulative and spiteful so like the devotional says I've really been feeling like it's unreasonable to ask me to make peace with her, but that's exactly what God is doing. The problem here is that I've tried and failed. She wants nothing to do with me, and in many ways I don't blame her. And to be honest I want nothing to do with her, but I feel a much higher calling from God to finally lay this all to rest.
My biggest fear is that contacting her will prompt her to again contact my husband, which she has always done in the past, and I just want to bury all this and forget it. But I suppose part of healing is experiencing some of the pain in order to get past it. So I suppose we will see if I can get past this fear in order to repair my heart and my soul, and quite possibly hers as well.
*Special note: Cyndy, I am very glad that we have made it to this point of reconciliation and peace, I really think this is what God intends for us, friendship after all this time. =]
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