Clean up your own mess, a good tip always
In the attempt to get the house renovated that we will soon be living in, Jessica and I along with the kiddies have been living my Mom and Dad. This has had many a humorous circumstance along with certain areas of conflict.
One of those areas is my parents are impeccably clean. They both have very clerical personalities. Mom has been a teacher for 25 years or so and Dad has managed money for companies and the government.
Here is the conflict, Jessica and I are not very clean I mean we take baths regularly, but with our personalities and two kids there is not much of a “clean as we go” aspect to what we do. This is driving my parents nuts, I can tell.
Relationships can be a lot like a dirty house and my parents have the right idea. As Christians we should have a “Clean as we go attitude” with all of our relationships. The longer we let a mess between us sit (by mess I mean an argument or a misunderstanding, or a true offense) The longer it grows upon itself until the next thing we know we are not on speaking terms with that person.
Matthew 5:23-24 says: 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. 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.
A lot of times we might say “Well ____ happened to me and Charlie and we don’t speak anymore.” “But I have forgiven him.” That is not what Jesus is saying here. He is not advocating a silent one sided forgiveness. He demands that before we come to him in worship, that if we “remember someone has something against US” to go and make it right. It is not about us and who we have fooled ourselves into thinking we have forgiven them.
As true walkers in the way of Christ we must be active in our relationships and not passive, taking the high ground, being the hero of the situation no matter what people think of you for seeking forgiveness from a person despite the horrible things you have done to each other.
That is the challenge this week. Seek out those who have something and against you and make it right. If you need to ask forgiveness ask for it, if you need to give it, give it. Yeah its gonna be hard and uncomfortable but here is the thing, we will be honoring Christ all the more by seeking to live at peace with all around us and be visible representations of Christ’s work in our lives.
The Good The Brad and The Ugly
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
