“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Mathew 5: 23-24 NKJV)
It’s interesting to note that the above Scripture talks of reaching out to someone who has something against you. This means that although your conscience might be clear, it still matters to God if someone else is feeling aggrieved on your account. Jesus warned that if we do not forgive others their sins, our Father will not forgive us. (Mathew 5:16). The state of our relationships with others matters so much to God that He asks us not only to forgive but to also seek reconciliation before we can offer sacrifices to Him.
3. Humility is Paramount in Reconciliation
It’s often easier to leave broken relationships alone. The process of reaching out to an aggrieved party and seeking forgiveness can be downright harrowing. “Will I sound needy?” “Do l have to be the one making the first move?” you may ask yourself. Let’s reflect on how God handled His broken relationship with mankind for a minute. Although it is man who strayed away from God, He did not wait for man to conjure up a plan of mending the broken relationship.
On the contrary, God made the first move and offered a hefty sacrifice – His own Son. To execute this arduous assignment, Jesus needed to humble Himself in order to brave the disgrace and pain that lay ahead. He did not cling to his divine form but willingly took the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2: 6-7). He donned humility in order to reconcile the world to God.
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8, NKJV)
Humility is key as we seek reconciliation. Oftentimes, you have to silence your ego and toss away pride. Jesus humbled Himself so that you can be reconciled back to God. Furthermore, the Bible urges us that in lowliness of mind, we should consider others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Considering others better than yourself will make the reconciliation process easier.
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