BE RECONCILED TO YOUR BROTHER

 

If your brother has something against you, first go and be reconciled to your brother.  The ‘Ten Commandments’ and the ‘sermon on the mount’ come together in Matthew 5 with this exhortation concerning relationships with our brother. 

 

What is so great about the way God created us is that we are all made in His image but we are all made differently.  There are no two people exactly alike and that makes each of us very special.  God has made you --- you--- for His own purpose and pleasure.

 

Because we are different we often differ.  That’s an understatement!  We differ greatly, frequently, and have always done so.  In the church we differ so much that sometimes we  divide and worship separately.  This has been the story of the church since early in history. 

 

However, our Lord taught often about handling differences.  In Matthew 5 He completes  the Ten Commandments by adding substance to the law.  One following Christ is not only subject to disobedience when they murder someone; but are also guilty  if they possess an attitude that could lead them to commit murder. That is quiet serious! 

 

When we do disagree with one another we are not to become so angry that we call our brother names or allow our anger to turn to spitefulness or hatred.  This attitude is no different from the commandment,  “thou shalt not murder,” according to our Savior’s teaching.  The end result will be the same judgment. 

 

Instead our Lord tells us to act quickly if we reach this point in our attitudes.  Even before we worship again we should make sure that everything is proper between ourselves and our brothers.  Notice also, it is not what I have against my brother but what my brother has against me that must  be resolved. 

 

This does not mean that we have to agree it just means we can’t hate each other.  Here are five suggestions from Dr. Coy Roper for consideration when we do disagree with one another: 

1. Disagreement should not discourage us. 
2. We can and should learn to live with some disagreements.
3. When we disagree with others, we need to continue to have good attitudes.
4. We need to follow biblical principles in dealing with disagreements.
5. Above all, we need to make sure that we individually do what is right.  

     Other than our relationship with God there is nothing more important than our relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We take these relationships much to lightly and allow differences, whether great or small, to damage this special bonding.  We will have to answer for each of these damaged bonds.  Let us affirm our love for one another!  I ask for your forgiveness and the Lord’s forgiveness because of my poor attitude and laxity in this area.  Please forgive me! 

 

 

 

 

 

A TIME OF THANKSGIVING

 

We are a very blessed people, living in a very exciting time, and we should be thankful for all the blessings we receive whether great or small.  We live in a land of opportunity and freedom.  We still have much to be thankful for.  

 

Thanksgiving is a state of mind as well as a date on a calendar.  “I will wash my hands

in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O LORD, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.”  Psalms 26:6-7

 

Happy we should be because we serve a loving God. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again

I will say, rejoice!”  Philippians 4:4

 

Awesome is His power to all those He loves.  “O God, You are more awesome than

Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!”   Psalms 68:35

 

Neighborly we should be with our thanksgiving. “'You shall love the LORD your God

with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”  Matthew 22:37-39

 

Kindness is an attribute of thanksgiving. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and

beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:12f

 

Special are these days of thanks, but all our days should be filled with thanksgiving.

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”   Psalms 100:4