For When You Encounter Prickly People :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 11}

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?

I hope you’ll go…

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:

*Linking with Do Not Depart, Women Living Well, Good Morning Girls, A Holy Experience