Directions: Reconciliation, Originally released 6/9/2009
Enjoy this edition of Directions featuring the ministry of Slovakia. You can learn more about AFCI's ministry in this country by visiting the AFCI Slovakia Nation Page.
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Pavle Cekov, AFCI National Director of Slovakia, reports that about 2 years ago, their church in Nove Zamky experienced a division when a small group left the church with one of the young leaders. This was a very painful situation for Pavle personally, and for the other leaders and members of the church.
Last winter Pavle and a small group from the church spent time in prayer and fasting for the churches of Nove Zamky. One of the results of that prayer time was a special miracle from God: the young leader who had left the church returned to ask forgiveness publically from the church and from Pavle. There was a joyous reconciliation between the 2 groups. The young leader and his family are now faithfully attending the church again.
REFLECTION
the man who caused all the trouble hurt your entire church . . .
when you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive
whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ's authority
for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us.
For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
2 Corinthians 2:5, 10-11 (NLT)
The apostle Paul faced a similar situation when a leader caused divisions in the Corinthian church. So often, Satan cloaks divisions in pious terms so we don't notice his evil schemes. Those who gossip, who criticize, and who divide churches usually feel justified in doing so because they believe they are right.
As a pastor in the US recently said, if we looked at each of the other members of our church as being the apple of God's eye, and if we perceived ourselves that way too, we would have a different frame of reference to deal with our differences: we would be quick to see and ask for forgiveness for our own faults, and quick to forgive and cover with love the weaknesses of others. Do you see evidence of Satan's evil schemes working in your church? How can you pray and be a peacemaker in that situation?