Matthew 5:21-26 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”

A life that is centered on Christ, someone who is trying their best to follow Christ must do some hard things. This is one of them. Christ reiterates that it is the thought that matters just as much as the action. Not just killing someone, but saying to them “I'll kill you” even if in anger is just as damning to one's soul as killing them and their entire family. Words spoken in haste and anger are just as vile as thoughts that we have pondered during our normal, everyday actions.

But what about trouble between us? Between people? What then? Well, if we have a problem with someone, we need to work it out. Of course that is fairly obvious. If we are at fault, we need to say sorry and apologize right? Yes! But what about when we are not at fault? We still need to pursue reconciliation with whoever we need to, even if it is just over a haircut! In fact Christ not only told us to do so, He showed us the way.

Christ himself practiced what he preached; He lived what He taught. If someone has something against us, we need to seek them out and be reconciled, even if it means leaving whatever we are doing for God and going and taking care of it! It is that important to Him! Our ministry, our work, teaching Sunday school, taking communion, leading prayer in class, even praying over our food! If we remember someone who we are not reconciled with, we must drop everything and try our best.

I said earlier that Christ led the way. Mankind was separated from God. There was a problem, and Christ left the very presence of God and allowed Himself to be restricted to being human just so He could be reconciled to us! If He did that, how are we able to say that we can't at least try to work things out with someone else, no matter what the argument or problem is or who is at fault?

If we are unable to do this, we can not truly claim the title of “little Christ” or “Christian.” Who do we need to remember and reconcile ourselves with?

O Master, from the mountainside
make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
among these restless throngs abide;
O tread the city's streets again.

Till all the world shall learn your love
and follow where your feet have trod,
till, glorious from your heaven above,
shall come the city of our God!