OTKC 07: Be Reconciled

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there, remember that your brother has something against you; leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  Matthew 5:23-24 (ESVUK)

Repairing the broken is not an easy task. Repairing what was put together over a long period of time and had remained so strong in that time but is now shattered is a tougher task. The command of Jesus to be reconciled as a higher priority than presenting gifts to the altar reveals much about the quality of what God requires and how the gifts are acceptable in His sight.

Reconciliation and the call to be Peacemakers

Jesus’ command does not come out of thin air. Earlier in the teaching to those who would follow Him, Jesus informed listeners of the blessed, and the culmination of the qualities of the blessed ended with the sons of God being known for being peacemakers. This follows them being marked for their pursuit of righteousness, commitment to purity, and diligent exercise of the capacity for being merciful. Applying those together marks the blessed for being peacemakers – reflecting their Father in heaven.

These characteristics once more reaffirm God’s Word that those who love Him wholeheartedly also love their neighbours with a similarly great capacity. The love for God is as much seen in their relationship with those they can see as it is with the Father they cannot. That requires patience, persistence, endurance, and commitment to rebuild broken relations with brothers.

Why Reconciliation Matters

Reconciliation is more than conflict resolution. Resolving conflict can bring about an agreement not to get into conflict again, but it can call for an agreed separation and non-engagement. Those can be viable and valid ways to resolve conflict. God is not just into stopping the conflict. Reconciliation seeks a return of flourishing, fruitful, constructive and collaborative relations. It goes to the heart of the plan of salvation.

Man’s rebellion against God caused a fissure in the relations between the Creator and the created. Of all those created, mankind was given the responsibility to reflect the Creator in how they rule and subdue the earth and how their fruitfulness reflects their Creator. Choosing to defy that left man to his own devices, which proved destructive to the environment and tragically to relations between themselves. This is particularly evident in man’s great difficulty in truly being reconciled with each other. Contracts can be signed, treaties can be celebrated, but the heart of true reconciliation can still be missed because people refuse to acknowledge the Creator who gives them the capacity to be truly human.

Throughout His interaction with humanity, God has displayed the heart and hand to restore those who would be lost. In Jesus Christ, the Father displayed to humanity His desire for humanity to return to Him. It is a natural part of this endeavour that the character of those who return to Source as their Father would display the desire for broken relationships to be restored. As the Apostle John reminds us, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

Steps to Reconcile

Often, in hearing the commands of Jesus, there is the sense that it’s easier said than done. Yet the commands are to be done, not just said. So, followers of Jesus are encouraged to once more deny themselves and take upon themselves the Spirit of God. Filled with His Spirit, they can express His character. Surrendering to the Spirit of God leads to taking the actions that mark peacemakers. Steps of righteousness, mercy, and purity are steps marked with the desire to restore broken relationships that celebrate the heart of God, who knows that peace-making is not about conflict resolution – it’s about what pleases the Creator.

After surrendering to the Spirit, there is the desire to act in line with what’s right. An apology if one is required. Further steps of reconciliation in terms of whatever builds trust in the desire to collaborate and display what God’s reconciling love looks like. It is not always possible to reconcile because of the state of the other party. As long as you do what is required on your part, then even if there is no peace with the brother yet, the peace of God can still be experienced.

Final Word on Reconciliation

As followers of Jesus, we are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. This is not just about personal relationships but also about proclaiming the Gospel to a world needing peace and restoration. In Colossians 1:20-21, we see that Christ’s reconciling work extends beyond human relationships to all of creation. Our role is to reflect this reconciling love in our communities and beyond.

It is not easy to follow the word of God to be reconciled. Yet it’s at the heart of the character of God and typified even in the Lord’s guide to prayer that encourages us to seek divine forgiveness as we practice human forgiveness. Peace – the picture of all things working harmoniously as it should to the glory of God – is seen in what it takes to overcome everything that opposes it. Broken relationships among the family of God are a great opportunity to see the power of God in restoring them to the state that brings delight to God. This promotes the heart of God far more than any gift to God or act of worship when done without restoring the right relations.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom

Questions for Reflection

• How do you currently approach conflicts or offences in your relationships?
• What role does humility play in your efforts to reconcile with others?
• How can you use Jesus’ command to be reconciled as a catalyst for deeper intimacy with God and more harmonious relationships with others?