Passage of the Day:
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 25 “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. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny, Matthew 5:21-26.
Reflection:
Jesus appears to know in advance what would happen if Christians put their trust in lawyers rather than the power of God to heal. God doesn’t want Christians to take the easy way out by letting a third party settle your differences. Rather as you prepare your hearts for communion or reflect upon your relationships in prayer, take the time to mend and restore these friendships. This is a call to action in the Sermon on the Mount.
Prayerful Action:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 2 Corinthians 5:17-18.
Retracing Your Steps:
When I was a youth director in Columbus, Indiana, one of the key leaders in the youth group was devastated when I replaced the person she loved. One day her mother came to me in tears confessing, “I’m so sorry that my daughter hates you.” After a few months of prayer and consultation, I was able to restore this relationship. When I moved on to Chicago, I actual met Shara at O’Hare International Airport, spending time talking before her parents picked her up. This is just one example of how God can restore broken relationships.
Song of the Day:
Not every relationship can be saved. Sometimes you have to wait until God changes another person’s heart before reconciliation is achieved. If today’s blog finds you in this situation, fast and pray for God to do a miracle by restoring this relationship.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 