To reconcile is “to restore a friendship or harmony.”  Merriam-Webster

• The need to reconcile means there is more than a conflict that needs to be managed but rather it is relational brokenness that needs repaired.
• The end game for reconciliation is restoration of friendship and/or bring harmony to the situation.
• Embracing anger is the greatest deterrent to reconciliation because it chooses relational brokenness.

Residing anger is a lurking threat to your standing before God.Matthew 5:21-22

• Jesus does not justify degrees of anger. (21-22)
• Residing anger of any kind will lead to judgment. (22a)
  • Calling out someone in anger with absolute disgust (Raca- to despise) will require an account of their anger. (22b)
  • Declaring someone a “fool” in anger as if you were the judge is in danger of ultimate judgment. 

Residing anger will hinder your worship.  Matthew 5:23-24

• Anger with another is so insidious to your soul that Jesus coaches you to deal with it first before worshipping Him. (24a) “Settle matters quickly…”(25a)
• Reconciling with a fellow human being will bring wholeness in your worship and relationship with God. (24b)
• There is a direct correlation relationally with the health of our human relationships and the health of our relationship with God.

1 John 4:20-21“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.  For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.  And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

Why do we allow anger to fester inside of us?

• Anger remains because we tend to justify our anger by creating degrees of it.
  • My anger leads me to ONLY ignore the person. I don’t do anything directly to them.
  • My anger leads me to ONLY set them up for what they deserve.
  • My anger tells me it is not slander because it is only telling the truth.
  • My anger leads me to ONLY be able to move on and let them see just how valuable I was to them.

• We hold onto anger because we have to be seen as right.
• We hold onto anger because we are often afraid of the process of reconciliation.
• We hold onto anger because we assume it minimally affects us.
  • Anger changes us from the inside out.
  • At first, we manage it well and it is not likely seen by others.
  • In time we become unsettled relationally with others.
  • In time we become disillusioned with life and ultimately with God.

The Journey to Reconciliation.

1. Jesus says don’t delay in making things right.
2. Despise the anger not the person.
3. Be courageous in engaging a broken relationship!
4. Let your adversary’s response in God’s hands.

Benediction:Be ministers of reconciliation.  2 Corinthians 5:17-21