The “Go” of Reconciliation

If you . . . remember that your brother has something against you . . . —Matthew 5:23

This verse says, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you . . . .” It is not saying, “If you search and find something because of your unbalanced sensitivity,” but, “If you . . . remember . . . .” In other words, if something is brought to your conscious mind by the Spirit of God— “First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:24). Never object to the intense sensitivity of the Spirit of God in you when He is instructing you down to the smallest detail.

“First be reconciled to your brother . . . .” Our Lord’s directive is simple— “First be reconciled . . . .” He says, in effect, “Go back the way you came— the way indicated to you by the conviction given to you at the altar; have an attitude in your mind and soul toward the person who has something against you that makes reconciliation as natural as breathing.” Jesus does not mention the other person— He says for you to go. It is not a matter of your rights. The true mark of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and obey the Lord Jesus.

“. . . and then come and offer your gift.” The process of reconciliation is clearly marked. First we have the heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, then the sudden restraint by the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit, and then we are stopped at the point of our conviction. This is followed by obedience to the Word of God, which builds an attitude or state of mind that places no blame on the one with whom you have been in the wrong. And finally there is the glad, simple, unhindered offering of your gift to God.

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無可指摘的態度

若想起弟兄向你懷怨……（太五23）

當你來到祭壇前，想起弟兄向你懷怨，若這不是病態地、敏感地翻出來的事，而是[想起]，那就是說神的靈在提醒你，那麼就要[先去同弟兄和好，然後來獻禮物]。聖靈要徹底教導你的時候，千萬不要拒絕他在你裡面那種極度的敏感性。

[先去同弟兄和好……]主的吩咐是簡明的:[先和好。 ]從原路回去，依從祭壇所得的指示回去。對那向你懷怨的人，要有正確的態度，以致和解就像呼吸一樣自然。耶穌並沒有提到另外那個人，他只說－－你去。不必考慮自己的主權。聖徒的印記就是放棄自己的主權，順服主耶穌。

[然後來獻禮物。 ]過程很清楚。首先，是放下英雄氣概；然後被聖靈敏銳的查察，在服罪中停下來；接著向神的話順服，對那懷怨的，在心志與心性上，建立無可指摘的態度；最後是快樂的、單純的、無阻攔的向神獻上禮物。

祈禱◆[我們的主為大，最有能力；他的智慧無法測度。 ]所有能力和智慧肯定是屬於你，而我又肯定地渴望著你，並藉著你的恩典，叫你的道路能在我身上通行無阻。