Are you seeking reconciliation? Pray and then go.

“Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matthew 18:18-20

Jesus’ teaching on reconciliation in Matthew chapter 18 ends with two astonishing and powerful promises. In the first, Jesus promises to hear us when we pray: “…if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

This is in the context of seeking reconciliation with another person with the involvement of the church (thus the plural “two of you”), but the principle can be applied to the whole process (John 14:16-17). If we will seek unity and reconciliation when we’re hurt, God will hear us when we pray. What do you need to obey this command? Courage? Grace? Wisdom? Love? A changed attitude? Ask for it in prayer and you will have it.  

Second, Jesus promises to go with us: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” If we’ll work for unity and reconciliation, the Lord will go with us.

Amazing. If we seek instead to advance our own agenda, we’ll wind up without him.  

The next time you find yourself needing to repair a relationship, remember these two promises. Pray, and then go.