Christmas is the Time for Reconciliation:

Many years ago we were transporting a handcuffed man in our police car.  Jail was just a few days behind him, and right back in front of him.  He had violated his probation by brutally beating his ex-girl friend.  I asked him why he beat her up.  He looked at me like I was stupid and offered his explanation.

He beat her up because she had testified against him for beating her up.  Her testimony sent him to jail.  He spent his years in jail preparing for the day when he could get out and beat her up for testifying against him which he blamed for locking him up.  We rode in the back of the police car, him headed right back to jail for an even longer period of time.  I was amazed how the man's logic made perfect sense to him.  In his mind, beating her up was the right and proper response to what she had so terribly done to him.  He was the victim in his story!

Most of us will read this extreme example and agree the man completely missed reality.  Sadly, in our own lives we will harbor anger, unforgiveness, and plot petty revenges.  We will obsess over the alleged offense done to us and remain blind to the part we played in the mess we made.

John 1:14 (MSG)

 The Word became flesh and blood,

and moved into the neighborhood. 

We saw the glory with our own eyes, 

the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, 

Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

Jesus moved into our neighborhood to break

the cycle of sin, revenge, and self righteousness.

He came to love, heal, and forgive.  If we are His children,

He has called us into the family business of reconciliation.

It is not easy.  But Jesus said it clearly, simply, and powerfully.

"If somebody has sinned against you, go to them!

If you have sinned against somebody, go to them!"  

This is not a call to foolishly place yourself in harms way.

Jesus is not calling you to be a doormat, or abused,

or taken advantage of again and again.

But He is calling you to let go of the anger,

the hatred, the plots, the revenge, and the poison

that can live in your soul and color your world.

Stop justifying and excusing the part you played in the mess you made.

Look in the mirror, reflect upon the truth, and own reality.

Then reach out, say your sorry, and be free!

Christmas really is the Holy Season when God

swung down from the heavens and touched the earth

in a most unique and glorious way.

Allow this Holy Season to be the Reason for Reaching out

and Opening the Amazing Door of Reconciliation!

For my own personal application:

I would love to speak with anyone

who feels any offense toward or from me,

because I want us both to be free!