Peace
with men, peace with God
Scripture:
“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.
“Settle matters quickly
with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still
together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the
judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you
will not get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:23-26
Observation:
After teaching about the dangers of anger
and insulting others, our Lord now focuses on the importance of reconciliation
and keeping short accounts with those who have something against us. Earlier
on, the Lord said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will called sons of
God”. Part of being a peacemaker is going to make peace with those we may have
offended intentionally or unintentionally. In fact, the Lord teaches us that it
is not proper to offer our gifts to God without first reconciling ourselves
with our brothers or sisters. In the church
of God
Regarding lawsuits, our Lord advises us
to settle matters quickly. Typically, because of pride and anger, many of us
may want to fight all the way in court, incurring legal bills and expenses
beyond reason. Again there is the principle of being peace-loving, in aiming to
settle matters quickly and move on with our lives. Conflicts and unresolved disputes
only create more and more stress and unhappiness in life.
Application:
Search our hearts and see if there are
those close to us that we may have offended, perhaps a family member or brother
and sister in Christ, even a colleague or friend. Do we have a heart that seeks
reconciliation, or do we ourselves still harbor anger and unforgiveness? It is
only when we make peace with ourselves that we can reach out in reconciliation
towards others. What if the other party refuses to be reconciled? If in good faith,
we know we have been sincere and genuinely sought reconciliation, our
conscience is clear, and we can move on, still having open hands towards the
other party.
If we are caught in a lawsuit, strive for
a quick settlement, so matters can be resolved, and the burden lifted off our
backs. Pray to God and be proactive as a seeker of peace.
Prayer:
Praise You, Father in Heaven, for the
Heavenly peace that you give us. Forgive us O Lord, for the times, we have
offended others. Help us have a reconciliatory spirit which seeks not to fight,
but to love peace and seek peace even with those who trouble us greatly. For
those of us in lawsuits, give us great wisdom and favor, that we may settle the
matter quickly, and move forward with the issue behind us. Help us to always be
peacemakers O Lord. Always give us Your precious peace. In Jesus name, Amen.
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