If both the parties are peace lovers, reconciliation becomes easy. Even if one party is not for it, then it becomes difficult.“ I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war,” laments David( Psa 120:7). Neither the Jews nor the Gentiles desired peace. So it seemed they were eternally at war with each other. Christ did not give up. What did He do? He came and preached peace to you who were far away( Gentiles) and peace to those who were near( Jews). He wanted so much to bring them together that He spoke peace to both of them individually.
If you are not at peace with someone, consider this: The Christ who spoke to them that day speaks to you today through His words:“ Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with each other”( Mk 9:50). If the salt loses its saltiness, it is good for nothing( Mt 5:13). Are you good for nothing or a salty person? You be your judge. If you are the salt of the earth, if you are a believer, honour the words of Christ, your Master, whom you worship.
You cannot settle a matter peacefully if there is some fault on either side. First rectify that matter on your part, apologize, and then extend your hand for a shake.“ Righteousness and peace kiss each other”( Psa 85:10). Where we expect peace there should be righteousness. David was more than willing for reconciliation. Though Saul repented now and then, his attitude remained the same, making reconciliation impossible. It should not be a surface peace but a heart to heart settlement. If you lead a God-pleasing life, even your enemies will live in peace with you( Prov 16:7). If the fruit of the Spirit is peace, should we, who call ourselves Spirit-filled believers, fold our hands behind our backs and refuse to shake hands?
Heavenly wisdom is peace loving but a saint who ignores the peace that God promises, returns to his folly( Js 3:17,18; Psa 85:8). The author of Hebrews admonishes us to“ make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord,”( Heb 12:14). Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you will never ever get even a glimpse of God.
We take the matter of reconciliation too lightly. We must make every effort to get right with the one whom we have wronged or who has wronged us( Rom 14:19). The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. A couple of abortive attempts doesn ' t mean you should close the case. Try again. Be mature enough to accept other people ' s immaturity.
Lack of peace may be eating away our family. We may have dinners, festivals and guests with much water flowing under the bridge. Give up your ego and go to your spouse or child to make peace. Are you in talking terms with your siblings? If not, it may be a good place to start. Like a gale of pure air driving out stagnant clouds of pollution, peace will replace bitterness( Prov 17:1). God has called us to peace( 1 Cor 7:15).
Christ made the two as one. There is neither Jew not Gentile, only Christians. If the two can forget their differences and become one, is it impossible for us to give up whatever we need to give up and hold hands? When Christ has shattered the hostility between the Gentile and the Jew, is it a big thing for Him to abolish your enmity? Submit whatever hostility is there between you two and ask Him to burn it up. Cooperate with God and take the initiative to break the impasse. Let not your false ego make you dither. Let not fear hold you down. Perfect love casts out fear. If you go, the Lord will come with you and make everything easy for you as He did for Esau and Jacob. This is my experience.
This peace-making was done by Christ through the cross in His flesh. It was not a cake-walk for Him. He suffered, shed His blood, hung in shame and agony, giving His back to be ploughed, whipped, spat
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