2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
People are people, broken daughters and sons, a culmination of defense mechanisms, survival tactics, hurt masquerading as power and strength, fear disguised as wisdom, behaviors good and bad and hearts that only want acceptance at any cost even to their own detriment. Full of sin in desperate need of a savior. So often we look at those around us and think they are bad, they are awful, cruel and mean but never take a moment to remember when that was also us, when we were the villain in someone’s story. Whether it was justified or true is irrelevant, we were at some point the cause of heartache, hurt, pain, and sleepless nights for someone in our lives. In fact, more often than you would think. Somewhere we begin to look and measure ourselves up by societal standards that we aren’t that bad. We didn’t rob anyone, we haven’t committed murder, we aren’t beating or neglecting children or the elderly, we haven’t committed adultery and so much more. Does that sound familiar? When I hear these things, I often remember this is the exact words of the pharisees and Sadducees in the Bible. And Jesus reminds them and us that if you so much as hate someone in your heart you have committed murder, if you have lusted with your eyes, you have committed adultery.

So why do we feel the need to justify without the proper steps and channels to cut people off in our lives at the first inconvenience. Someone hurt your feelings, you were told no, things didn’t go the way you wanted or how you expected, people aren’t agreeing with you and your choices, someone voiced their opinions or corrected you in a loving and biblical manner and now you are never speaking to them again. And even worse, you can’t make that decision for yourself only, you have now mounted a campaign of people to be against your enemy as well. The amount of pride it takes not to see a different perspective, the hardness of your heart not to see people as broken sons and daughters in need of a savior just as you are.

We too were once unreconciled and yet Christ’s sacrifice was enough to reconcile us. Cutting people off is unbiblical and not the ministry we have been given. We are told to preach the gospel and to reconcile. Salvation after all is just that, reconciliation with our God despite what we have or have not done.
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 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.
Matthew 5:23-24 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.
Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
These verses remind us that God has forgiven us for a multitude of sins. If we were to sit and make an honest list of all the things we did against God, we would never finish before we took our last breath. Even more so, we’d miss out on a lot of old things because we were busy adding new things to the list daily. Yet God forgives us time and time again. He covers us with the blood of Christ and casts our sins as far from the east is to the west. If we are to be like Christ, that means we are to extend the same to those around us that He so freely and willingly gave to us. Do you think He didn’t endure abuse, shame? As He hung on the cross for our sins, he didn’t have his heart broken, feel defeated, and alone? All He had to do was call on the father and thousands of angels would have rescued Him in one moment. Yet we are reconciled because of that sacrifice. Every feeling you have ever had hung on that cross with Him. He felt it all, carried it all, endured it all, yours, mine and everyone else’s. Reconciliation is what we are called to do for He reconciled us.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
We can only control ourselves and how we react, how we feel, what we do. This verse reminds us to live peaceably within our own decisions, actions, and hearts. We cannot control others, we can however reflect to them the grace, mercy and love of God that someone reflected and even now reflects to us on our worst days. We should always seek peace and forgiveness with those around us. Even when we feel weak and tired, we should remember that those are the moments when God’s strength is shone through us. Some may choose to be mean and ugly but that does not mean I have to join them on that journey. I can be kind, show love and grace, and pray for those people. This doesn’t mean I have to give them access to my entire personal life, but I can still show them that God is more powerful than anything and he can restore and reconcile even the most difficult of situations. We have only to trust in Him, in His plan, and in His timing.

Luke 27-38 reminds us to love our enemies, do good to them that hate us, turn the other cheek, and to be merciful for what we measure with will be the same we are measured by. I implore you to remember to measure with grace and be merciful. To correct in love and allow the Holy Spirit to do His job. If you find yourself with a heart that is hardening towards someone, I pray you find yourself at the foot of the cross asking God for softness, patience, and the strength to be the man or woman He has called you to be. Remember being a Christian means we must suffer hardships; we must endure, we must pick up our cross and carry it just as our savior did. But we do not suffer alone and strength, peace beyond reasoning, and love can all be found in our Father.

I pray each of you find it in your hearts to forgive and release the hurts of your life. Hand them over to the Father and leave those that have harmed you in His hands. Let your heart be soft, full of love, and overflowing with peace. May each of you learn to reconcile not only yourselves to Christ but also yourselves to those around you in hopes that you may be the example needed for them to see the love of Christ, the forgiveness of our Father, and the convictions of the Holy Spirit. May you all be blessed this new year as you strive to live a Jesus filled life.