Now is the time.... To Build A Bridge

"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Matthew 11:25

Recently I heard the sad news that a man had been informed by a solicitor that his mother had passed away…… six months earlier. They had been estranged for some years, I am not sure what the problem or issue had been, but obviously there was no contact and now this man is left with a whole lot of unresolved ‘stuff’. Perhaps guilt, anger, or even great sorrow that there had been no time to reconcile and say goodbye. How very sad and painful.

Life is full of challenges, especially in the area of relationships; sometimes even within our own families and for many and various reasons, but unresolved issues are not worth the pain they cause in the long run. Yes, resolving relationship issues can be difficult and very painful or even humbling, but the ‘fallout’ from broken relationships is much more damaging, not only to our emotions but also to our physical health.

Even if we think we have settled our issue in ourselves and it doesn’t bother us anymore, our body will probably tell us otherwise. Buried anger often manifests in depression, bitterness shows up as arthritis, just to name two ways that our body will tell us that things are not right. You see, our body is very connected with our spirit and if one is not right, the other is affected.

In the verse today it speaks about forgiving one who may have wronged us SO THAT our heavenly Father can forgive us. Mmmm, that sounds a bit conditional, don’t you think? Well, the next verse makes the point even clearer, "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." Vs 26. If we look at Matthew 5:23,24 it gives another slant to the subject, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

As believers in, and receivers of the love, mercy, grace and forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are given no permission whatsoever to hold onto bitterness or unresolved relationship issues. If we do it will hinder God’s flow of forgiveness into our own lives and will most definitely have other harmful effects on our body. We are to be channels of forgiveness, mercy, grace and love to others thus demonstrating the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. For Jesus’ sake seek reconciliation before it is too late. Don’t be left out in the cold and don’t leave anyone else out in the cold.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to love and forgive as you do. Fill me with your love and grant me grace to walk worthy of you. Amen