When you have wronged someone apologizing is a natural thing we have been taught to do since we were little and ask them to forgive you. As we get older this has become second nature and has taken on a madatory status instead of something you "felt" lead to do. Guilt drives alot of adult behavior and can be a very misused feeling. Guilt does not come from God, he did not intend for us to walk around with our heads hung and always feeling bad about our mistakes, however frequent and messy they are they are still covered by His blood and as soon as we Confess them to him they are forgiven.
We "Confess" once and are forgiven for what we have done and will do in the future and then we ARE saved, sealed and our sins do not bring death to our relationship with God, some sins can bring about other death, but we are forgiven!!! Nothing you do can change that, there will still be uncomfortable consequences and sometimes long lasting consequences but the relationship is never lost. We have that security with our brothers and sisters in Christ too, we will always be related, we may not have the same earthly relationships but with prayer and love all things are possible. Repenting is seeing that what we did was wrong and acknowledging that and turning back to walking righteously. We sometimes want the acknowledgement and the humbleness of the other person but is that love? Do you enjoy having to be humble and go to someone and try to make things right. We misuse reproof and correction of each other, we should be able to confess that we did something wrong to our brother or sister in christ, but as the offended we can love them even if they do not, for the true care should be their relationship with God, and as long as that is in good order we should be graceful and freely give forgiveness to them as a gift with no strings as it was given to us. The holy spirit will do his work on the heart and return them to righteousness, the scripture tells us to go to each other, it does not tell us to collect apologies or admissions. The results is up to God, He is the maker and keeper.
Repent to God, and let him lead you in your steps, pray for the ones you have wronged and allow God to make it right. Sometimes the best of intentions actually do more harm and cause pain that did not need to be caused because we tried to fix a mistake or we tried to fight a battle that was not ours to fight.
The misuse of these two acts and how God intended for them to be used leads to alot of broken relationships and alot of hurt. We are to try to love each other as Christ loves us and we are to forgive each other, (whether we get an apology or not) like Christ loved us. Many do just that, they forgive and forget (love does not keep a record of wrongs) but just like with Christ's forgiving us, it has to be received, you have to trust that the other person has forgiven you and you need to accepted their forgiveness and walk as a freed person and not like you are on death row.
If we stick with scripture we can't go wrong- take all your cares, worries, hurts, guilt to the healer and let him take the burden.
1 Peter 8-9
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers (and sisters), be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil or insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find Grace to help us in our time of need.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for i am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.
No comments:
Post a Comment