Some people are like a cactus, mostly prickly with an occasional flower blooming amidst their thorns.
And those kind of people challenge me, because I’m a people pleaser. It’s pretty much guaranteed that if I know there’s a problem between you and me, I will pursue you, no matter whose fault it is. In fact “harmony” is one of my top five Strengthsfinder 2.0 strengths, and I’m crazy about those kind of tests!
And while being hypersensitive to the acceptance of others can become a prison, failing to reconcile with someone can hinder our praise.
Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV) 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 to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Jesus says, not only should we not murder someone or be angry at them without a cause, we should seek to reconcile with them before we offer our gifts to Him…
Before we pray
Before we worship
Before we give
And before we serve
And you know what else?
We should pursue peace even if the conflict is not our fault. Even if their cactus spikes have poked us and there’s no flower to be found on them at all.
Jesus says if there anyone who has a problem with you, you must seek peace, and you’re to do it now.
Don’t wait.
Don’t let bitterness grow.
Don’t let weeks and months and years go by.
Because it’s that important to God for us to love one another.
God is a personal God. He wants our worship and our praise. He desires us to pray and surrender the best of our hearts, and He wants to receive the gifts we offer Him.
But this issue of reconciling with one another is so important, that Jesus says we should interrupt our worship and any gift we are presenting, and we should go. We should seek peace first and then come give to God.
Now that’s pretty important!
So let me ask you something…
Is there someone you need to call today?
Is there a letter you need to write?
Is there someone you should drive to go see?
Is there something you can do, somehow, someway, to make things right with someone in your life?
Are you willing to obey God, set your offering down and go?
Because maybe, although they seem like a prickly cactus, they may surprise you. You may see a view of a glorious flower blooming amidst their thorns. And maybe God’s purpose for you is more about you seeing the flower in them, instead of focusing on their prickly spines?
Who knows what amazing things may be in store?
Who do you need to pursue today?
How can I pray for you?
Continuing on in memorizing the Sermon on the Mount, with Ann and this community. Join us?
This week on to Matthew 5:25-26 (ESV)…
{WEEK 12} Matthew 5:25-26 (ESV) Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. c t t q w y a w y a g w h t c l y a h y o t t j a t j t t g a y b p i p t i s t y y w n g o u y h p t l p
Other posts in this series:
~Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount ~For When You Want to Know How to Really Teach {Week 1} ~For When You Need to Quit Performing to Earn God’s Love & Blessing {Week 2} ~When You Long to be Satisfied and Supremely Happy {Week 3} ~For When Memorizing is Intimidating and Change is a Challenge {Week 4} ~For When You Don’t Fit in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5} ~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6} ~We ARE the Light of the World {Week 7} ~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week 8} ~For When You Think It’s Only About Following the Rules {Week 9} ~Because It’s All About the Illustrations & Their Principles {Week 10}
What a great post!!!! You stated this so well. A very good read! Popping over from GMG blog hop. -A Little R & R http://jukiczr.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for your encouraging words…and for stopping by 🙂
I have a friend who sounds just like you. She is very good to pursue others to iron out any perceived issues.
It is so hard to pursue peace when we don’t perceive it to be our fault in the first place, but yes, we are called to do that. It doesn’t matter who starts it; we’re to step up to end it, when possible.
Thanks for sharing these thoughts. Good stuff I need to hear!
Oh God has used that verse a number of times in my life…it baffled me why He said to go when you know someone has something against you…It seemed backwards to me…it seemed intrusive to go to them if they had not come to share what they had against me. but then I started to see…to take that step…our hearts have to be prepared…at least for me…I can not do this easily…so my heart is soften toward God and toward that person before I go. I see…at least for myself…if they came to me and my heart my not be prepared…ready to receive and it could make matters worse. God in His wisdom knows that the soil of our hearts need to be tilled up before we can receive…either from Him or from others.
I am a pursuer too…still learning how to press in…but also leave some things in His hands.
great post my friend…blesssings~
How lovely a post. I just set up the memory book to begin to memorize the Sermon on the Mount. Congratulations to you for being at Week 12.
people pleaser! right here! oh, don’t i get it! the pursuing… when someone seems prickly!
Oh Donna, that’s wonderful! You are going to love this journey…thank you for saying hi!
Yes, oh yes, I know 🙂
“God in His wisdom knows that the soil of our hearts needs to be tilled before we can receive..” Oh how true that is, and all the more reason to initiate peace. Have a wonderful day!
It is hard so many times…thank you for your kindness and encouragement!