I am a Jesus pusher!!! “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder’” (Matthew 5:21). Murder, anger, and hate are attempts to destroy the image of God in another. Jesus does not address the resistance issue from the one with whom you want reconciliation. Why? In our passage, this seems to be a non-issue! I cannot do anything about what is in my brother. His response is never an excuse for my resistance to being reconciled. In other words, reconciliation must take place in me towards my brother. It must express and offer reconciliation; His response is not the issue. My response to reconciliation is an expression of God’s nature possessing me. Therefore, “murder” (resisting reconciliation with my brother) not only destroys my brother, but it also destroys me.
Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the person who justifies his disdain and contempt for his brother. The spiritual realm of our individual lives cannot maintain the nature of God and the nature of Satan within the same realm. Jesus will state this again and again. At the close of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15). The provision of God’s heart through Jesus is the forgiveness of every individual. God forgives everyone! Every person decides if they will accept such forgiveness and live in reconciliation with God. My heart should never cause a lack of relationship through reconciliation! I want the heart of Jesus. I am a Jesus pusher!!!