Be Reconciled

Be Reconciled

If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.

Matthew 18:15

The Amish live within a relatively small network of people. Churches are organized into districts of a certain number of square miles. The Amish attend church with their closest neighbors, and these are the same people with whom they live and celebrate the events of their lives. Of course, these are also the people with whom they can have the greatest conflict. It may be easy to ignore a problem when a distant friend sins, but it’s harder when a neighbor down the road is acting wrongly. The impact of those offenses hits close to home.

Through the Internet I’m connected with old school friends, former coworkers who have moved across the country, and people I’ve never met who enjoy the same activities or hobbies that I do. When I have a conflict with a friend far away, I have the option of not answering a call or an e-mail from that person, but the Amish learn to work through their grievances to maintain unity for the good of their community.

Confronting another person can be difficult. Working at reconciliation is challenging. But ignoring a problem is worse. When we turn our backs to fellow believers, we might have less outward conflict, but we also will lose the chance to be used by God in reconciling that person to Him.

Galatians 6:1 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.” Is there someone in your life with whom you need to be reconciled? Do you need to gently and humbly confront a fellow believer about some sin? Do you need to reconcile yourself to God? It might be easier to ignore these issues, but you can never live in close communion with God and others if you do.

Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I’ve pulled back from the needs of friends instead of drawing closer to those people. Please point out my own faults, and guide me in reconciling myself to You and then to others.