Daily Devotion

July 7, 2014

SEEK RECONCILIATION


“Go and be reconciled.” Mt 5:24 NIV

Sometimes the only way to get over your hurt feelings is to seek reconciliation. And if you are willing, God will help you do it. George Eliot wrote: “Oh, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.” A college professor who was teaching on the high cost of unforgiveness asked each of her students to bring a sack of potatoes to class. For each person they refused to forgive, they had to select a potato and write the date on it beside that person’s name. Then for a month, without fail, they had to carry that sack of potatoes with them everywhere they went. After lugging those sacks around for a while each student began to recognize how much weight they were carrying; the amount of energy it took to focus on their bag; and that they had to be careful not to leave it in the wrong place. Eventually, as the potatoes began to rot and stink, they realized that getting rid of them was the only smart thing to do. Jesus said, “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t…what are you going to do with them?” (Jn 20:23 TM). Good question! How would you like God to forgive you in the same way you forgive others? If that thought makes you uncomfortable, do something about it!

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