By Glenn Miller

GOD’S WORD: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4: 31-32

When it comes to justice (or as Micah puts it, acting justly), there are two kinds of people in this world. First, there are those who when someone wrongs them, they harbor bitterness, rage, anger, slander, and all other forms of malice against their perpetrators. They hold on to the hurt or the pain, regardless of whether or not the perpetrator has admitted they were wrong and asked for forgiveness, as a means of power or control. As long as they wave the flag of “you’ve wronged me”, they feel as if they have some indebtedness owed to them; they feel they have a trump card to play at any convenient time.

On the other hand, there are those who, when recognizing someone has wronged them, approach the situation in a spirit of love, often confronting their perpetrator with mercy, in hope to employ the ministry of reconciliation that God has given us. They strive for the peace that is mentioned when Jesus says, “Bless are the peacemakers” despite how deep the wound has cut into their core. It is the second person, in my opinion, that Christ modeled.

One is reactive and puts up walls toward facilitating peace. The other is proactive and seeks the peace that should be prevalent in the kingdom of God.

Today, I will closely examine those relationships with those who have wronged me and perhaps those I’ve wronged. For those who have wronged me, I will make it known to them that all is forgiven and all pain is hereby buried; that the past is behind us and the future holds hope for peace and reconciliation. For those I’ve wronged, I will confess my wrong-doing and ask for their mercy and forgiveness, not in an attempt to earn back their favor, respect, or love, but to plow the ground in order that the Holy Spirit may plant the seeds of peace.