Gifts, Fruit, & Reconciliation

Yesterday I had the honor of my husband sharing the pulpit, allowing me the privelege of sharing the Word with the Body. Part of that message (available at lcmb.org for free downloads), was that FRUIT is who we are, GIFTS are what we do. I shared about the importance of the fruit of the Spirit to be cultivated in our lives, creating a firm foundation for the gifts of the Spirit to be added on to as they are given to us. Fruit can be cultivated, gifts are received....but you can listen to the message for more of this.

So today, I was contemplating these things, gifts and fruit, and was reminded of Matt 5 where Jesus is talking about being reconciled with offended brothers. He says "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift".

Our gifts cannot be rightly given when there is not reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18 says that God "has given us the ministry of reconciliation", that just as Christ has reconciled us to Himself, we are to now live in the same manner.

So this causes me to ask myself - "Have my gifts eclipsed my ministry of reconciliation? Are my gifts being used to foster reconciliation"?

As a believer, I am embarassed when those who have received beautiful gifts from God refuse reconciliation. When ministries experience success because of their giftings, yet are not humble to be reconciled with those who are offended by them, this is not love, but arrogance? The attitude seems to be that the gifting somehow implies a "pass" on having to explain ourselves.

I heard a testimony recently of a minister I deeply respect, giving a "pass" to a fellow minister because of the personal relationship they had. Because he knew the man personally, he was asking others to also give him a "pass", to trust his judgement. There was no scriptural foundation for the "pass" offered, just personal experience, which may or may not be valid. And yet the man in question has done little, if anything, to reconcile the offenses against himself. Now, I know that we are not to hold offenses in the first place, but as ones entrusted with the gifts given, we have a responsibility to lives of reconciliation, whether we think the offense is justified or not.

As a ministry, I should be willing to lay open my finances to give an account to those who are offended by what they see. I should be willing to explain the foundation upon which I base my ministry. I have nothing to hide and desire that all men be edified. I cannot hide behind my gifting. The gifts God has given do not make me "special". Gifts are given to all for the edification for all. I am already special because Christ, though I was dead in my trespasses and sin, died for me, that I might be reconciled to Him. He set His heart upon me before the foundation fo the world!

So what about us? The "every-day believer"? Let's endeavor to not hide behind the gifts God has given us, but to live lives of reconciliation with God and man. This will take courage, humility, and grace to lay ourselves open in this way, but Jesus said that it is possible (not easy, but possible)! Are you ready to look in the mirror? I'll go first....