Did you struggle under an oppressive past? Have you now broken free of it? Are you really free of it? Some people who have been liberated from the yoke of bondage spend the rest of their lives living in opposition to it. So it becomes just as strong an influence in reaction as it was in oppression and still dominates them. Have you seen this effect in people who can’t move forward even though the oppressive forces are released? I have released you from your past and make all things new. Don’t resent your past for it got you where you are today. The more you are able to recognize that what others meant for evil (or even for good) that I can use for good, the more you will benefit from it.

If your brother has a claim of justice against you, go to your brother and be reconciled to him before you bring your gift to the altar of the Lord. This emphasizes that reconciliation has priority even over ‘spiritual’ tasks, because reconciliation is a spiritual task. What if you have a claim of justice against your brother and he will not come to you and repent? Can forgiveness be extended only if it is sought by the offending party? You can extend forgiveness to your brother even if he does not seek it. This does not bring about reconciliation, but it does release you from the burden of bitterness that comes from unforgiveness.

Do you know that in the legal system some defendants are given immunity in exchange for their confession and testimony? Even in plea arrangements confession is usually part of the deal in exchange for a reduced sentence. Do you see the same dynamic in operation in my kingdom? If you confess your sins I am faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. In this case it doesn’t depend on the decision of a prosecutor and applies to everything. Do you think that defendants should not be given leniency in return for their confession? What about you?

Is your faith robust? Do you understand this as something that is hard to break? You may apply this term more often to physical objects or systems, but it can also be applied to faith. You face challenges to your faith from the circumstances of life and from unbelievers, and you can expect this to increase. You may have acquired additions to the basic simplicity of  the gospel and find that these more complex concepts are harder to defend. Examine your beliefs to determine which are essential to your faith that you are willing to stand for, and which you can let go. This will make your faith more robust. There are some hills you don’t need to die on.