By Ajeet Kumar.
Matthew 5: 24
"leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."
The hurt
Have you ever felt undervalued, unwelcome, not recognised, hurt by your close friends? Did your eyes get wet and your heart turn heavy with their actions and words?
The response
How did you respond then? Did you hurt them back, trying to bring the same tears in their eyes? Did your pain turn to revenge, trying to act like a devil? Did you lose your peace? Did you grow thorns around you, not allowing people to come near you? Or did you develop stones around your heart? Or did you drink poison against them? A poison killing you deep inside? Did you draw yourself away from people?
Why don't you try to communicate with them? Did you try expressing your emotions to them? Did you try being polite to them even though you are hurting? Did you bring it to Christ asking for restoration of peace in the midst of suffering? Did you ask the Holy Spirit to let you think properly in a way pleasing to God?
Colossians 3:13 "Bear with each other & forgive one another if any of you have grievances against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
My dear friend, take a moment, hold your running and scattered thoughts, focus them to the cross with me. Can you see the lamb being prepared for sacrifice? Can you see him falling and getting back up, lifting your cross and mine? Can you see the nails of our evils being hammered, puncturing his skin, muscles, veins and bones? Can you see the crown of thorns decorated by our evils, penetrating his head? Can you see him being hit by a whip, a whip embedded full of glass, thorns, nails and our sins scratching his muscles out? Can you see his body bleeding from head to toe so that we can be washed in his blood? Can you see him thirsty, suffocating and unable to breathe? Can you see him dying bit by bit for you and me?
I know my friend that you are hurt and suffering. But are you suffering more than Christ? Christ says love God and love people and only out of love, Christ suffered for us but he didn't stop there, he went a step ahead, he forgave people, the people who made him suffer. He reconciled with them. Forgiveness and reconciliation is an act of love and commitment. It's an act of peace. The peace which we sometimes lose in our hurts and suffering. The peace which is much needed in our hard times.
Do not draw yourself away from people in your suffering. Remember, suffering is hard, suffering alone is harder. God has made us a social being, a part of one body. Paul says, if one suffers, all suffer with him.
Hebrews 12:14 "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone"
My loving friend, take this time, pray for God's peace and love to fulfill your heart so that you can pour the same on others especially those who are hurting you. Take this time to communicate with them, ask for forgiveness, forgive them too, do the reconciliation now and let the love and peace of Christ overcome the hurt, pain, suffering and darkness.