Do all that is necessary to reconcile

Peacemaking is the focus of one of the two Beatitudes we covered on Sunday.  Peacemaking is more than calming feelings, soothing hurt feelings or getting two people to stop fighting and go to their separate corners.  Peacemaking is reconciling two parties (or more) to a new relationship of trust and caring.  The only way this can be done for any long-lasting effect is through the power of the Lord in the lives of the people.  But Ron, what if the other person will not, absolutely refuses to reconcile? 

Well, this cutting off of a relationship seems to be the counsel of some professionals in regard to a son or daughter and their parents.  Their counsel is to sever or totally cut off all contact, all communication and go your separate ways.  I cannot fathom this counsel.  We are created for relationships, first with God and then with others.  For someone to counsel that we sever without any avenue or hope of reconciliation is beyond me.  I know there are situations where one party is so messed up that we have to establish firm and strict boundaries, but there is always a road to renewing, re-establishing or reconciling the relationship.  

So when a person cuts us off or severs the line of communication, we still hope and work on our end to be ready for their return and the subsequent reconciliation.  We are to be like the loving father in the parable of the prodigal son, who though his son had said, “You are dead to me — give me what I will get eventually,” sat on the porch looking intently and expectantly for the return of the son.

Like the Lord, who is long-suffering and not willing that any should perish, we are to be hopeful and prepared for the opportunity to make lasting peace with any who are sideways with us.  And if the fault lies with us, let us do all that is necessary to reconcile with others.  At the heart of peacemaking is forgiveness.  We should be quick to forgive and slow to anger.

Pressing on…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor