MEDITATION:
Written by Carla Harding, a contemporary Christian author and director for 24-7 Prayer across Great Britain.
God’s plan for humanity was always community. But the messy reality is that things don’t always go to plan. Relationships become fractured, even broken. The challenge when this happens is that Jesus doesn’t just kindly suggest it could be a good idea to fix them. He commands it as a prerequisite of my worship. My heart cannot be reconciled to God unless it is reconciled with others. How is my heart today? Am I holding any bitterness, negativity, or unforgiveness toward someone I know? Where is there division in my community? Is there bitterness, negativity, or unforgiveness within my family, among friends, or between racial or religious groups?
Jesus says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” [Matthew 6:14-15]. Challenging words! Jesus suggests that there is a connection between my willingness to let go of offence and the desire to punish others, and in my openness to receive God’s gift of forgiveness and see more clearly who He is. Jesus’ kingdom vision is a community who are collectively pursuing purity of heart through confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
PRAYER:
Written by Carla Harding, author of today’s meditation.
God, I am so thankful that Your vision for reconciliation is so much bigger and more beautiful than my own. Today, I invite You to transform my relationships and community for your glory. Purify my heart so that I can, “bear with others and forgive…as You have forgiven me.”
MUSIC MEDITATION:
A Heart That Forgives. Kevin LeVar. Written by Kevin LaVar in 2008.
Pathways Press.com 