The last few weeks I have been talking about how to deal with conflict in a God pleasing way so that your relationships can be restored. This whole thing can really come down to two words, "Jesus" and "forgiveness".

This is holy week. It all starts on Palm Sunday as we remember Jesus' ride into Jerusalem on a colt as the people sang "Hosanna to the king". On Maundy (command) Thursday we remember the institution of the Lord's Supper and Christ's command to love each other. On Good Friday we remember the "good" death that Jesus died on our behalf. On Holy Saturday we mourn as we remember that it was because of our sins that Jesus lay in that tomb. Then comes Easter Sunday as we rejoice in the victory over death and the grave that Jesus won for us and that because he has risen we too shall rise and live forever.

What does this have to do with reconciliation and conflict? Well, look at it this way, if it wasn't for all that Jesus did in His life, suffering and death we would have no power, nor would we even desire, to reconcile ourselves to each other. Without the forgiveness of Christ we could care less whether those whom we have sinned against forgive us, and we certainly have no desire to forgive those who sin against us.

When we become Christians, we truly have Christ in our hearts, and our desire is for the Lord. Our desire is to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. Our desire is to do what God would have us to do. Our desire is to be reminded, as often as possible, of the forgiveness won for us on the cross on Good Friday and the victory over death on Resurrection Day.

God has restored our broken relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. In order to share that good news and bring it to bear in the lives of others, we should and must forgive others and seek forgiveness from others. We should and must seek to be reconciled with one another and seek to have our relationships restored to ones that truly show forth Jesus Christ.
We should never withhold forgiveness or think that we are in the right when we know that we really aren't. We should never turn our search for forgiveness or our forgiveness for others into some sort of self righteousness where we think that, because we have done what God wants us to do, somehow we are better or deserve heaven more.

This holy week is a perfect time to get moving on reconciliation. You may be getting together with family members on Sunday. Wouldn't it be awesome to go to them and simply ask for forgiveness? Would it be spectacular if you could get a hug instead of a sneer? Wouldn't it be beautiful to feel love and forgiveness instead of tension and hatred? Think about it.

As you go forth in your efforts to reconcile, remember the four "Gs".

1. Glorify God
2. Get the log out of your own eye.
3. Gently restore.
4. Go and be reconciled.

For more information and help on how to reconcile your relationships go to www.HisAoR.org or give me a call at church at 456-2888.

God's blessings and peace as you mourn the death of Christ, as you remember that His suffering and death was for you, and as you rejoice in His resurrection and yours!

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeier
To God All Praise and Glory!