As Christians, we need to continue to work
on reconciliation.
Jesus wants to use us to reconcile this world
and make the kingdom happen here
In order to know the brokenness that we
have to reconcile, we have to go back to the very beginning when the sin
started.
There were three relationships have broken.
The
first one was the broken relationship between God and human being. When Adam
sinned, he hid himself from God
The second broken relationship was the
relationship between human and human.
The third broken relationship was the
relationship between human and Earth.
The relationship between people is one
element of reconciliation that we need to be actively involved.
This reconciliation requires us to dive
into this work. We cannot passively wait for opportunities to come to us.
The reality for happiness and sadness is
that we might receive 30% happiness and 70% sadness. By avoiding sadness and
pursuing happiness, the sadness will follow.
In order to be happy, face the sadness.
Then you can change the sadness to happiness.
In order to reconcile broken human
relationship, face the brokenness and then change it
Today's passage (Matthew 5:43-48) is
telling us is not just simply that we have to love our neighbor but you have to
include your enemy into your neighbor to reconcile the brokenness.
Often we like to gather and be friend those
who are like us. Yet, we need to love those who are not like us and separated from
us. This means we need to love our enemies. Who are our enemies?
But I say to you, Love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:44 ESV
This is not just those who are out to hurt
you intentionally.
For if you love those who love you, what
reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 5:46 ESV
We need to love those who are different
from us or think differently than us.
We find that in church this will happen. Certain members who are different from us are excluded or we treat as our enemies. We do not agree with them so we make different friends or find another group or church.
The solution is to pray for our enemies .
On the cross, Jesus prayed for enemies. Jesus thought of them as lost sheep
so that you may be sons of your Father who
is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends
rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:45 ESV
God decided to reconcile us first through
his son Jesus Christ and let us to live the new life for reconciliation of all
people and all things.
Jesus wants to fix us to use us for
reconciliation. This is our purpose after we are saved.
God will punish evil, but he is currently
looking for lost sheep.
When we pray for our enemy, God reconciles the relationship.
We are Sons of God and God is our father.
He loves us not because we do something that deserves His love.
Likewise, we need to follow His heart.
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