Sunday, July 26, 1998 This Week’s Lesson:
In this week’s lesson, which came from Genesis 50:15-21, Matthew 5:23-24, and Colossians 3:12-15, we learned about the importance of pursuing a genuine reconciliation in conflict situations with others. Often, people disagree, and sometimes, their disagreements go further than they should. Then, the result is long-term anxiety in the relationship and perhaps even a severed relationship altogether. As Christians, we should strive to maintain good, pleasant relationships with everyone, especially with other Christians. We should also, however, do all we can to maintain good relationships even with those who do not name Christ as their Savior. In Genesis 50:15-21, Joseph was in a position to hurt his brothers who years before had tried to hurt him. Rather than yield to that obvious temptation, though, he extended a hand of fellowship and showed them love and mercy. While they were fearful, he assured them that they had nothing to fear, and he proved himself to be true to his word. During a time of severe famine, he cared for the personal needs of his whole family and then gave them a place to live. For our benefit, Joseph demonstrated a willingness to restore some broken relationships, and when we follow his example, the cause of Christ is advanced.
In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus spoke to the assembled crowd and taught just how important it is to try to reconcile a bad relationship. He told the people that they should not even try to make their offerings to the Lord until they have first attempted to make peace with an offended brother or sister. We cannot always appease those who are upset with us, but as Christians, we should always at least try. In Colossians 3:12-15, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colosse church and instructed the people to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. When we forgive, we should try to do so completely. These admonitions do not mean, however, that Christians are to make themselves doormats for all who will assail them. They do mean that as ambassadors of Christ, we should, as much as possible, be peacemakers in this world and try to maintain peace with everyone. Many people have the need to always be right, but Christians should never let themselves be driven by such a foolish control mechanism. Instead, we should be driven by the much greater motive of seeing others come to the Lord and accept Him as Savior. We should always remember that Jesus died on the cross so that all who call upon Him can be saved. We should also always remember that He came to seek and to save those which were lost. When we meditate on these kinds of thoughts instead of petty differences we have with others, then many of those silly things about which we sometimes squabble really do become silly, petty, and insignificant.
Behind all that we do for the Lord should be the simple motivation of love. We work for the Father because we love Him supremely. We try to reach others for Him because we love them as ourselves. In this coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to point out to you someone in need, and try to be faithful to help that person meet their need. The mark of Christianity is sincere service, first to God, then to others.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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