The Accuser "Settle Matters Quickly With Your Adversary”

The Accuser

"Settle Matters Quickly With Your Adversary”

 

Matters/Differences that don’t get handled

Or settled quickly, “fester”

Offenses are a source of irritation

An irritation that creates anger and

spreads not only in our minds and

hearts but gets leaked out to others

Before long they get too hard to handle one on one

That is why Jesus says in the end you

will pay the full price even the last penny

None of us are perfect.

We make mistakes and don’t

always handle things the best.

Sometimes we become self-centered

and someone around us gets hurt.

 We need to remember out of all the things

we can do today, the most important

will be those things that affect others.

Relationships are at the top of the

“To Do List” God gives us each day.

The command love the Lord and love your

neighbor are still at the top of the list.

 It is how everything else gets done.

God makes it clear, our love for others

is to be equal to our love for our self.

The saying…

 “Don’t eat in front of others unless you

are going to share” is a Godly principle.

You and I need to live life as if we

are in the shoes of those around us.

If someone spoke or acted

like you, how would you feel?

Jesus makes it clear He did

not come to abolish the law.

Jesus fulfilled the law by love.

 He laid down His life on a daily bases and ultimately

He died so that sinners (you and I) could be forgiven.

 

Jesus points out to us that the law does not go far enough.

The law teaches us right and wrong but

Jesus tells us that as important as each stroke

of the pen is, there is something greater.

It is the thoughts and emotions of the heart.

That is why Jesus says…

  “…anyone who is angry with his

brother will be subject to judgment.”

When there becomes a “matter”, a “difference”,

 between you and someone else, Jesus says settle it quickly.

Don’t let it get to the point of

another person taking you to court.

Jesus takes this to a higher level when He says…  

“…if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your

brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.

First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

Matters/Differences that don’t get

handled or settled quickly “fester”.

Offenses are a source of irritation.

An irritation that creates anger and

spreads not only in our minds and

hearts but gets leaked out to others…

Before long they get too hard to handle one on one.

That is why Jesus says in the end you

will pay the full price even the last penny.

We are good at putting things

off that we don’t like to do.

If you did something to someone else that

you would not have wanted done to you, go

to that person quickly and settle the matter.

 Be willing to work out what you could not settle.

It is very important your adversary

knows you are more than talk.

 You truly want to work out your differences.

When you and I understand the

importance of loving others as our self…

When we understand the love of Christ…

We, too, will be like Jesus and fulfill

the law without being under the law.

Scripture Reading

Matthew 5:17-26 NIV

17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

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

25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.