Some people may claim they are just naturally good ...whether they feel they've had a superb upbringing, a happy childhood, or whether they feel they are exceptionally good on their own merit.
The rest of us feel we need a little help ...or a lot.
Some of us are a real mess, and we struggle constantly ...and we don't like gatherings, especially the ones that sit around and talk of their successes.
Though the self-proclaimed first group would say they are what they are because of them, the more honest lot of us feel we can not overcome our struggles without God ...and it is only through Him that we can perchance accomplish anything good.
Many of us feel we must first come to God to succeed ...but, we often differ in our definition of success also. And we must come to God if we are to have hope ...but, our hope is also a different kind of hope. I would say it is a more lasting hope ...and everlasting one.
So, we come to God ...and we read what He has for us to read, about Him. And we read, " ...first be reconciled to your brother (sister) ..."
Why is this important? Many of us had a childhood where we became tired of hearing our parents say, "Because I said so!!" And it is important because He says so, but there are reasons He says so.
We are in a world of not just individual sin, but community ...corporate ...and national sin.
How we treat our neighbors, and how we respond to law enforcement becomes our community attitudes.
How we vote, how we view our representatives of our views ...how we exchange our views on Twitter or Facebook, are our national views. We share from household to household ...community to community ...and state to state, while we state our group opinions which form our society.
And how we respond within our households, to our families, is the activity of a corporate entity established by God.
We should be polite on Twitter & Facebook, as well as being polite here ...or any other venue. Yet, that does not mean we should cower or bend to those who are mean ...or confident and assertive. We can firmly, yet politely hold a different view.
We should be respectful and polite to our neighbors. And the core of it all is that which is within our corporate family, of husband and wife ...and often children. Of course, God should be at the center of the family ...and the fellowship of families of faith should not be neglected, as they are a community of believers with much to share and contribute.
So, what about ..."first reconcile".
We are not perfect. I doubt that statement is a shocker to anyone. More accurately, we are sinners ...and though most people will not claim they are perfect, they are not ready to admit their sin. And if they do admit it, they only do in comparison ...making it clear that they are not as bad as other people.
But, the definition of sin is not set by us. Sin is sin, whether we acknowledge it or not. Sin is separation from God ...which is not only separate from His ways, but separate from His grace, if one does not accept the pathway Jesus has made possible through His sacrifice.
So, we all sin ...as we exist here on earth, with the choices we make. In that way, we separate ourselves from what He wants for us here on earth ...and to glorify Him and His ways. But, we are not separated from Him eternally ...if we accept the grace of Jesus.
In summary, sin separates us during those struggles on earth ...and Jesus allows us to return back to Him. So, it could be said that sin separates us from Him, but Jesus separates us from sin.
Yes, we sin in our families, in our testimony to our neighbors, and in our various visions for the pathway of our nation. We are not excluded from this sin ...we are all participants in our corporate and community sins. We don't suddenly say, "Oh, I know I was part of that, but now you are on your own ...since you own the problem now, it's yours. I've moved beyond that."
No, that should not be the attitude. And it's probably much at the root of the anger over the abortion conflict. If we've helped create the problem, then we should also be a part of the solution. And the biggest part of the abortion solution is in realizing that the problem is not the pregnancy ...the baby is not the problem. The baby is likely the solution to the problem, inviting you to regroup and prioritize. And perhaps the true value of life can be realized, and ingrained within you.
More accurately, the problem could be the lack of resolve in accepting responsibility, lack of maturity because of such rampant self-fulfilling desires, and yes, in most cases it has to do with lack of morality and a system to clearly and accurately define it.
We may feel we are not a part of one problem, but we are a part of some problem ...and we all cause some damage to the surroundings around us. And I'm not talking about climate change as a result of our indirect or direct contribution to polluting our earth. I'm talking about the damage we do to individuals and also to their inner beings. The biggest way we can be a part of the solution is by realizing that a few cents is better than no cents ...a headache is better than no head ...and a little pain in life is better than an eternity of it. So, try to make some sense out of it by using your head ...and accept Jesus, for an eternity with Him.
And if we want to find joy, many people can tell of where they find it, but think of where you'd imagine it may not be ...and tell me why you think it sometimes is. (http://theyliveintherealsenseofthekingdom.blogspot.com/)
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