Reconcile and Rediscover Life In This Christmas Season

John Belt
John Belt

This may seem a little odd to write this kind of an article during a time where many are celebrating the Christmas season. but the Lord clearly impressed this message on me to share. In many ways it is a very appropriate time to share since we engage with others more now than maybe any other time of the year. Whatever the case I pray everyone has the best and most blessed Christmas ever!
There are many in the Body of Christ that have had painful experiences, whether in a church setting or with others. This has made some people ?over? sensitive to the point that bitterness and self-pity has come into their hearts. Jesus was no foreigner to rejection, accusation and difficulty. This is why He told us offenses would come.
How we deal with the offenses that come through others is very important. The writer of Hebrews shows us how a ?root of bitterness? can spring up and ?defile? others.
Hebrews 12:14-15
?Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.?
2podhmrvlik-mayur-galaA?root of bitterness comes when people don?t deal with their hurts or the offenses that come correctly.?They?can become carriers of spiritual disease that spreads to others that have no wisdom or discernment to see it coming.?
We don’t want to be found ?falling short? of the grace of God. In other words, we?don’t want to lose touch with the reality of God?s grace in our?own lives, what God has done for us. Because of a?lack of a consciousness of God?s goodness, the reality of His love in our?own lives and being depleted of thankfulness we have ?no grace to give?to?others.?We don’t want to become ?self-focused? and the center of all things – rather than have God in this place.
It becomes all too popular to blame others for things that happen, where taking responsibility for personal actions is left by the wayside. This is where an ?overly-sensitive wounded heart? becomes a carrier of bitterness and bad tidings, gossiping, speaking evil about others, rather than covering people?in love.
If there is an issue with someone it should as much as possible be dealt with person to person. You go to the person you have issue with and speak to them and attempt to reconcile the situation. You never go to others to slander another person. ?Misery loves company. ?
Proverbs 10:18-20
?Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool.
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.?
It can be all to easy for wounded people to justify wrong doing when they feel hurt. We cannot forget the Holy Spirit and turn to spread bitter disease. It is the same spirit that feeds on ?criticism?. A critical spirit comes from someone who is caught up in a negative cycle of pride. There is always something wrong or something should be better. Their light has gone out.
Hebrews 7:24-26
?But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.?
Jesus calls us to a higher place of love, to stand in the gap for forgiveness and reconciliation. This is such a powerful verse from the Amplified Bible on love:
I Corinthians 13:4-8
?Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. ?Love (God?s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. ?It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.?Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].?
Jesus calls us out from underneath the clouds to the place where He lives, above the clouds higher than the heavens, to make intercession for all of the saints. If you are making intercession you cannot stand in accusation. Love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Pet. 4:8)
Proverbs 10:12
?Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all sins.?
Have you really had so many sins against you that you consider it a ?multitude? yet? Even from one person? Peter asked Jesus the question, ?How many times should I forgive my brother?? Jesus told him seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:22
?Then Peter came to Him and said, ?Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times???Jesus said to him, ?I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy?times seven.?
This is ?complete? forgiveness for seven is the number of completion, total forgiveness and forever forgiving. Keep in mind this is just one person Peter is referring to. Remember you have to ?access? God?s grace. You have to ?access? God?s love. The love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We really do love with the love of God as we receive it in our own hearts. But you have to ?receive His love? to pour it out on others. This is His grace.
Romans 5:5
?Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has
been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.?
It is not possible to stand in accusation and not come into alignment with ?the father of lies? because this is what he lives to do. He is the accuser of the brethren. Is your mouth in alignment with God, influenced by the Holy Spirit or are you getting in bed with the enemy? An intimate relationship with God does not allow you the liberty to speak evil of others.
Are you accessing the grace of God? Are you giving the grace of God? Do you have grace to give? Is grace a big thing for you or just a side item? Are you thankful for what God has forgiven you for? Not only that, are you willing to be as good to others as God has been to you? I?m not talking about the people you like, but the ones you don?t like because of what they have done and said about you. Jesus said if you love those who love you? that is no big deal. Love those you don?t love, your enemies and those you don?t even like?
Luke 6:32
?But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
For even sinners love those who love them.?

You get ?no credit? for loving those you favor and love you. It is best that we don?t forget our roots, where God brought us from, how He took us by the hand and lifted us up from the pit. Are you wanting to pull others up from the pit like Jesus did for you or are there some you want to kick down as low as you can or throw them off the cliff? Are you overly legalistic, perfectionistic, hard, slandering, bitter and just overly-sensitive being out of balance because of hurts and offenses you have incurred? Because of open wounds people are infected by the venom of the enemy and their perceptions are thrown out of whack. They can feel like it is completely the other person?s fault when in fact it is probably some of their own as well. We tend to say it is ?either or? when it is actually ?both and?. Sometimes it is completely the other person?s fault, maybe they are to blame, but maybe not. God sees everything in clear view.
Humble yourself, be healed, get reconciled, get with God and get things fixed. Find the free joyous life of thanksgiving God created you for as you live life in His Presence!
I heard someone share a story in past months of how they asked an older couple what the key was to having all the great relationships that they have, their ?keys to life in relationships?. They said that when they were growing up if something broke they would get it fixed, nowadays people just go buy a new replacement. WOW! This is how most people deal with relationships. If something goes wrong or it does not function perfectly we will just go get another relationship rather than fixing our relationships. Can you see this happening? Is this happening to you?
Instead of getting upset and running the other direction from others, see if you can find a way to communicate with the other party. Learn to communicate in love with others. This will work wonders in your life!
Get in God?s Presence, seek the Lord, pray, get His love in your heart and communicate with others. Our mouths are meant to bless and produce life. Let God you use your mouth for healing, health, blessing, love, forgiveness, peace, joy and reconciliation. Make a commitment in 2017 to change your ways for the better and experience God?s overflow and blessing like you?ve never experienced before!
Zechariah 4:7
?This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
?Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,?
Says the Lord of hosts.
?Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of ?Grace, grace to it!?
Find grace. True worship is found with a humble heart embracing truth, bowing before the Lord. If we try to exalt ourselves above others He will humble us. If we humble ourselves before the Lord He will lift us up. He gives grace to the humble. ?It is time to “pick up” His grace. ?This will be accompanied with life, blessing and prosperity as we allow His grace to work in us and through us.?
James 4:6
?But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
?God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.?
 

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