(Matthew 5:21-25) “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
(Luke 12:57-59) “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
Reminder: "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that we should not murder (Mt.5:21)
- that we should not be angry with our siblings and fellow believers (Mt.5:22)
- that we should not slur or put down our siblings and fellow believers (Mt.5:22)
- that we should on our own initiative determine what is the right thing to do, before it ever gets to the point of going to courts or requiring any sort of mediator (Lk.12:57-58)
- that we should fully reconcile with our siblings and fellow believers as soon as possible, to the point that we should try to make friends with them, even if we were not friends with them before (Mt.5:23-25)
Today's prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank You so much for sending us Your Holy Spirit to indwell us, convict us and guide us. May we desire to always seek out and do Your will. May we desire to always be at peace with all people, especially with our fellow believers.
When tensions arise, give us insight as to how to reconcile and be friends. May Your love fill our hearts so that it overflows and spills out to all of those around us, so that they will want to know more about You. Amen.
(Luke 12:57-59) “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
Reminder: "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that we should not murder (Mt.5:21)
- that we should not be angry with our siblings and fellow believers (Mt.5:22)
- that we should not slur or put down our siblings and fellow believers (Mt.5:22)
- that we should on our own initiative determine what is the right thing to do, before it ever gets to the point of going to courts or requiring any sort of mediator (Lk.12:57-58)
- that we should fully reconcile with our siblings and fellow believers as soon as possible, to the point that we should try to make friends with them, even if we were not friends with them before (Mt.5:23-25)
Today's prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank You so much for sending us Your Holy Spirit to indwell us, convict us and guide us. May we desire to always seek out and do Your will. May we desire to always be at peace with all people, especially with our fellow believers.
When tensions arise, give us insight as to how to reconcile and be friends. May Your love fill our hearts so that it overflows and spills out to all of those around us, so that they will want to know more about You. Amen.
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