Work to Do
Read Matthew 5:21-26.
There will be a lot of work to do after today, especially if we take Jesus' word to us in the Sermon on the Mount seriously. Jesus is speaking, in this section of the Sermon, of how our hearts and intentions are the places where sin begins. The act of murder, for instance, begins long before a life it taken (just as the act of adultery begins long before sex takes place). Murder begins, Jesus says, when we determine someone else is a "fool," which leads to determining they are not worthy to live, and that leads to...well, you get the idea. The act begins in the heart and in the spirit.
The solution, Jesus says, is to do a heart examination. He tells us that, if we're in the midst of worship and we're offering our gift to God and we suddenly remember we have a broken relationship out there somewhere, we should leave our gift and go make things right. Don't let another day (or even another minute) pass without doing all we can to restore the relationship, because forgiveness short-circuits the process that leads us down a dark path. Be reconciled. Make things right.
And that's why I say a lot of work will have to take place in the days to come. Today is election day in the United States, and this in particular has been one of the most rancorous election cycles ever. I know experts have said that about every election for the last several, but it really seems to be true this time. There have been words said, not just by and to the candidates themselves, but among and between supporters and friends. Relationships have been broken because of differing political positions. Christians line up on both sides of the political aisle and accuse each other of not being Christian because they're supporting the other side. There is much room for reconciliation and forgiveness to take place. What happens when we both get to the altar this coming Sunday, after a difficult season, and we kneel together before the same God?
There is much work to do. There are many accusations of "fool" to be withdrawn. There is much healing that needs to take place. There are broken places that may take longer than a presidential term to mend.
But, you know what? You don't have to wait until tomorrow to start the healing process. You can start today. Are there relationships that you need to heal? Take the first step. "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18). Offer healing. Mend the broken places. It starts with you and me.
There will be a lot of work to do after today, especially if we take Jesus' word to us in the Sermon on the Mount seriously. Jesus is speaking, in this section of the Sermon, of how our hearts and intentions are the places where sin begins. The act of murder, for instance, begins long before a life it taken (just as the act of adultery begins long before sex takes place). Murder begins, Jesus says, when we determine someone else is a "fool," which leads to determining they are not worthy to live, and that leads to...well, you get the idea. The act begins in the heart and in the spirit.
The solution, Jesus says, is to do a heart examination. He tells us that, if we're in the midst of worship and we're offering our gift to God and we suddenly remember we have a broken relationship out there somewhere, we should leave our gift and go make things right. Don't let another day (or even another minute) pass without doing all we can to restore the relationship, because forgiveness short-circuits the process that leads us down a dark path. Be reconciled. Make things right.
And that's why I say a lot of work will have to take place in the days to come. Today is election day in the United States, and this in particular has been one of the most rancorous election cycles ever. I know experts have said that about every election for the last several, but it really seems to be true this time. There have been words said, not just by and to the candidates themselves, but among and between supporters and friends. Relationships have been broken because of differing political positions. Christians line up on both sides of the political aisle and accuse each other of not being Christian because they're supporting the other side. There is much room for reconciliation and forgiveness to take place. What happens when we both get to the altar this coming Sunday, after a difficult season, and we kneel together before the same God?
There is much work to do. There are many accusations of "fool" to be withdrawn. There is much healing that needs to take place. There are broken places that may take longer than a presidential term to mend.
But, you know what? You don't have to wait until tomorrow to start the healing process. You can start today. Are there relationships that you need to heal? Take the first step. "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18). Offer healing. Mend the broken places. It starts with you and me.
I always wonder if my cutting off the abusers in my life was the right thing to do and then I remember I was led to do it and they never made a mistake in their lives.
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