Reconciled

So you say you are a follower of Jesus. You say you are in a good place. However, there is something in your life that you haven’t dealt with. Sound familiar?

“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

Reflection

Jesus really puts it out there, doesn’t He?

Before bringing your gift to God, He tells us to go and be reconciled with others. That’s a pretty direct instruction. It also raises a question. I thought I could simply bring these things to Jesus. Isn’t that what He is there for?

The more I think about it, the more I believe reconciliation is one of the ways God helps us get our hearts right. Not because He needs it, but because we do.

I’ve noticed that when I’m sideways with someone, it stays with me. Depending on who it is and what happened, it can occupy far more space in my mind than it deserves. What begins as a disagreement or hurt can slowly become a burden that follows me throughout the day.

Unfortunately, it took me many years to become reconciled with many things in my life. When I say many things, I’m not joking.

I didn’t realize how much I was carrying until I retired. Until I improved my health. Until I forgave someone for something that felt unforgivable.

There is a freedom that comes from reconciliation.

Yes, Jesus is there to help us. Yes, He walks beside us through the process. But we still have a role to play. We have to take the step. We have to make the choice.

Reconciliation is a choice.

We can choose to try. We can reach out. We can change how we think about a situation. We can let go of something we’ve been carrying for far too long.

What I’ve learned is that reconciliation does not always mean restoration.

The other person may not be interested. The relationship may never return to what it once was. In fact, sometimes “normal” wasn’t all that healthy to begin with.

That was one of the hardest lessons for me to learn.

There are plenty of things competing for our attention every day. A bad knee. The economy. Family struggles. Disappointments. Unanswered questions. If we’re not careful, those things can take up more room in our hearts than they should.

For me, I no longer allow those joy stealers to move in and make themselves at home. Sure, life still happens. Things still go wrong. Nothing is perfect.

But these days I’m less focused on what I don’t have and more focused on what I do have. I’m focused on gratitude. I’m focused on thanking God for the life He has given me. While I may not have enjoyed every lesson, I’m thankful for what those lessons taught me.

To say the least, I’ve become reconciled with a lot of things.

And with God’s help, I’m still working on the rest.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the words of Jesus and for reminding us of the importance of reconciliation. Help us to be honest with ourselves and willing to face the things we have left unresolved. Give us the courage to take the first step when a step is needed and the wisdom to accept what we cannot change. Fill our hearts with peace, gratitude, and forgiveness. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord. Amen.