Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT)
“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”
Many times, when someone falls out with us–usually due to something WE have said or done that offended them–we tend to have a nonchalant, or unconcerned attitude about it. We tend to say things to provoke them like, “Oh, You Mad? Why You Mad, tho?” Or, “I don’t have an issue with you. So if you have an issue with me, that’s your problem.” Then we tend to go about our day, free-spirited, while the other person is suffering from a grudge, unforgiveness, bitterness or hatred in their hearts toward us. God is DISPLEASED.
HOW COULD YOU SLEEP PEACEFULLY AT NIGHT WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS A FAULT AGAINST YOU? WHERE IS THE LOVE AND COMPASSION THAT RESTORES AND RECONCILES RELATIONSHIPS? YOU MAY NOT HAVE A GRUDGE IN YOUR HEART TOWARD THE OTHER PERSON, BUT YOU DID OFFEND THEM AND CAUSED THEM TO HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST YOU. YOU PROVOKED THEM TO ANGER; AND YOU DIDN’T EVEN CARE ENOUGH TO APOLOGIZE. HUMBLE YOURSELF! REPENT FROM YOUR STUBBORNNESS, AND PURSUE PEACE WITH YOUR BROTHER/SISTER. EVEN IF YOU BELIEVE YOU WERE RIGHT IN THE SITUATION, THE WAY YOU HANDLED IT WAS PROBABLY WRONG. APOLOGIZE TO THEM. FOR GOD IS A GOD OF UNITY, NOT DIVISION. AND IF YOU HAVE SINCERELY APOLOGIZED, BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO FORGIVE YOU, THEN DON’T WORRY, GOD WILL BE PLEASED WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE YOUR PART. HE WILL DEAL WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR UNFORGIVENESS, BECAUSE IF THEY DO NOT FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES AGAINST THEM, GOD WILL NOT FORGIVE THEIR TRESPASSES AGAINST HIM.
Transparent For Christ Movement 