Do you have any resentments lingering in your thoughts and mind? Unfortunately, I do. It is hard to forget when people do bad things to you, especially when you don’t know why they did them. And, they keep doing them.
Today I read Matthew 5. It says that if you are presenting a sacrifice in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, go to that person and reconcile immediately.
Wait, what? I have to go the person that has something against me? What do I even say? Sigh. This is challenging. A person has something against me and I have to confront them and resolve it? I don’t want to do that, I don’t even know how to go about it. Our Pastor said on Wednesday that when we read the bible it is not always what we want to hear, but it is what we need to hear.
Teaching about Anger
“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment. ’But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
“When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.
—Matthew 5:21-26 (NLT)
The bible is always challenging us to do better. It says to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. This is difficult too, if you only love those who love you, how are you different? Even pagans love those who love them. Oh ouch. That is tough to hear.
God is calling us to His perfect standard. If I truly try to do all these hard things each day, I am sure that my heart will change and become more Christ-like. I don’t think this is easy. I have changed so much since accepting Jesus and becoming a Christian. I have changed what I watch, what I listen to, how I talk, how I think and what I say. I will never be perfect. If I strive to be more like Christ, maybe I can make more changes, where each change builds something big and noticeable.
Jesus calls us to a higher standard. It is not the easy road, but neither was Jesus dying on a cross for our salvation.
We have to forgive and take it a few steps farther. Love and forgiveness is only the beginning.
Teaching about Love for Enemies
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
—Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)
Embrace This Beautiful Life 