Matthew 5

I listened to a sermon on the radio yesterday on the way to the store, it was Raul Ries from Calvary Chapel Diamond Bar. I've been having a problem with this one gentleman (in terms of a title only, not how he acts) for a few months and up until about two weeks ago I thought the best way to handle it was just to ignore him. Until I found out why he held things against me which caused me to send a rather candid email -- no, it definitely was not rude though I could have made it rude -- to him in response. I realized a lot of things and suggested we sit near each other for a while at any fellowship gathering so we know the other is harmless and try to reconcile the differences. Though, admittedly, it'll take me longer to get over the resentment I have towards him than it will take for him. He never commented back so I doubt he agrees with that assessment. Regardless.... the sermon yesterday was on Matthew 5 from what I could gather as I got in the car in the middle of it. The two sets of verses references was Matthew 5:23-24 and Matthew 5:43-48

23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

For a few weeks I've been toying with the idea of stopping the Friday night group at Calvary. I have to admit the email I got from him set me on that thought pattern again and I've been plotting my escape for two weeks. I DID decide to stop going for sure for the next few weeks until January because I've been sick for two weeks and want to fully recover from it. However, the sermon and the sets of verses caused me to stop dead in my tracks. I cannot NOT go because of him... I have to continue going because of him. I realized that God is teaching me to be in a group of people that I love dearly but yet there is one person I don't seem to get along with. And that I have to learn that regardless of how I really feel, I have to show genuine Christian love towards him.

Last week an issue came up with a good friend I've known since 3rd grade. I was so mad at her, I couldn't believe how mad I was. So I was talking to another friend about it on Friday night and he said, "So when was the last time you talked to her?" I said, "Yesterday via txt message." He said, "That's not talking to her." Wow, this guy is going to make me learn to forgive people like Christ forgives me when I mess up. So instead of txting this gal today, I left her a voice message and we talked for a while on the phone tonight. Things are good now with her and me. We've overcome worse arguments in our years of knowing each other.

This also reminds me of an email I got from another friend... not even the slightest bit related to this, she has no idea about this stuff... but the email says "We will not find a friend that sticks closer than a brother...who accepts us as we are and never leaves us... until we've learned and chosen to be a friend like this ourselves" -- I love how God speaks to us on the same theme for three or four days in a row in various ways.