Day 27: Reconciliation And The Great Commission

The Great Commission.

We have seen those three words a lot in this book. In fact, we have modified it a bit at times to reflect our goal for these thirty days: becoming a Great Commission Christian.

Let’s look a bit more deeply into the two primary words. A commission is an order or directive from a higher authority. It can be an assignment given to a group or an individual. Because the commission is given by someone, or some group, in authority, the person carrying out the commission has the same authority.

Of course, we know the authority for the Great Commission comes from Jesus. He reminds us of that reality in Matthew 28:18: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” Immediately after he says those words, he proclaims, “Therefore, go . . .” (Matthew 28:19). Clearly, we are to go under the authority of Christ, who commissions us.

Throughout the history of the church, we have attached the superlative great to this commission from our Lord and Savior. In other words, we see this particular command from Jesus as one of utmost importance. We have already noted that the words of Acts 1:8 were Jesus’ last words before he ascended to heaven. It was his “last will and testament” to us. It was truly a commission of great importance.

Our obedient response to the Great Commission is an act of worship. We have said yes to the King of kings. We are ready to go.

Unless . . .

We are unreconciled to someone.

UNDERSTANDING Matthew 5:23-24

When Matthew wrote his gospel, he knew that many Jews would be among the primary audience. And he knew that the Jews understood well the sacrificial system of their day. When a sacrifice was brought to the Temple, it was an act of profound worship and service to God.

I wonder if these words from Matthew 5:23-24 struck the audience with their obvious profundity: “If you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”

Jesus’ words are abundantly clear. You can’t get your relationship straight with God until your relationships are good with others. So Jesus told them not to come into the Temple if they had a broken relationship with someone.

For those of us desiring to become Great Commission Christians, we are reminded that we cannot serve God well if we have other relationships that need mending. What does that mean for us?

PERSONALLY RECONCILE WITH PEOPLE WHERE POSSIBLE

The key word here is personally. Can you meet with them in person? Can you connect on one of the many meeting platforms now available? Can you call them on the phone? Are there ways you can reach out personally to anyone with whom you’ve had a breach of relationship? Though written communication is not always as good as meeting in person or calling someone, it might be a path for you to take.

Do you have a story of reconciliation? Ed Stetzer and I have made public our story about the enmity between us that was followed by reconciliation. He and I have very different personalities, and those differences were magnified when we worked together at a seminary. Our dislike for one another turned into a shouting match on one occasion. There were many tense moments during those years.

A few years later, Ed reached out to me. I give him full credit for initiating the reconciliation in our relationship. If I recall correctly, he first contacted me by email to compliment me on something I had written. We had different types of communication from that point forward. We later worked together again in another organization. I doubt that either of us would have predicted that outcome.

Ed and I still have the same different personalities. And there have been moments of disagreement since our reconciliation. But disagreements do not and should not lead to estrangement. I see now more clearly the gifts and abilities Ed has. It has been good to focus on them more than our differences.

AT THE VERY LEAST, RECONCILE IN PRINCIPLE

In a conversation I had with a friend I’ll call Jeff, he told me about the difficult relationship he’d had with his dad. Jeff had early memories of his dad telling him that he would never amount to anything. Every time Jeff tried to do something to please him, his father would tell him what he did wrong. My friend’s entire childhood was shaped negatively by a parent he could never please.

His father essentially disowned his grown son when he decided to leave the family business to pursue a calling to ministry. Jeff’s dad told him that if he left the company, he never wanted to see him again. Jeff was brokenhearted, but he pursued his calling anyway.

Jeff attempted to reach out to his dad a few times over the next three years. He finally gave up when his dad refused to take his calls. Four years later, Jeff’s father died of a sudden heart attack.

When I called Jeff, he told me he was dealing with both grief and deep regret. He wished he had made a greater effort to reconcile with his dad. On the one hand, he knew he had made several efforts to connect with him. On the other hand, he thought he could have done more.

He could not have imagined his dad would die so young.

Jeff took a step that seems to be instructive. He reconciled with his dad in his heart. He actually verbalized a full apology with a plea for reconciliation. Through flowing tears, he spoke as if his dad were present. Though it wasn’t the same as if his father had been there in person, Jeff knew that he meant what he said from the heart.

LEAVE YOUR SACRIFICE AT THE ALTAR

You have done well. You are nearing the end of your thirty-day challenge to become a Great Commission Christian. That is your “sacrifice at the altar.” It is your act of obedience to a holy God.

Now, before the thirty days conclude, take time to pray about anyone with whom you are not reconciled. If any faces or names come to mind, ask God to give you a heart or willingness to reach out to that person. You might be able to make a phone call right now. Or perhaps you can start the process with an email or note encouraging this person or noting something good they have done.

You might be in the same situation that Jeff was. The person with whom you need to reconcile is no longer alive. You can’t go to them personally, but you can still reconcile with them in your heart. I know. They might have hurt you deeply. Only God can give you the grace and strength to be willing to forgive them.

Jeff asked God for that same grace and strength. He knew he could not forgive his dad in his own power. But he also knew the Holy Spirit could do that work through him.

It’s time to leave your sacrifice at the altar. It’s time to go and be reconciled.