Reconcile By Apologizing
As people who are loved by God, our goal is to reconcile always. Paul said "Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." (Philippians 2:2 NIV11)
Be one. Come together. Don't divide, but be reconciled. In other words, don't just do nothing. Make it right.
Taking Active Steps Toward Healing
It's been said that God will only do in us what we allow Him to do. God's not going to fix your relationship for you. But He will certainly resurrect relationships through you if you will truly seek reconciliation.
Again, this begins with wanting to reconcile because of the way God loves you. You'll think to yourself: God is so good to me. So kind. So gracious. So patient. Let me go back to this broken relationship and show the same love to this person.
There are two parts to reconciliation. Today we'll focus on the first: you might need to apologize. For many people, apologizing is the stumbling block. For many, they will say "I'm not going to apologize."
Yes, there are times when others have done damage and you've done nothing to provoke it. There are times when you don’t need to apologize. But if we're honest with ourselves, I think there are many times when we are just too stubborn and selfish to admit our own role in the situation.
We pass the blame far too quickly! We claim the high ground without even thinking on it. And much damage comes to relationships because we refuse to apologize.
The Humility of Genuine Apology
Paul actually said this in the very next verse: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" (Philippians 2:3 NIV11).
Don't think you're above apologizing. Don't think you are above any of it. Don't be selfish or vain, but in humility value the other person even above yourself! That's radical. That's tough.
But friends let's be the type of Christians who don't pridefully insist on our innocence when maybe we did speak too harshly. Or when maybe we did provoke. Or when maybe we were a little misleading. If we're going to reconcile, it's going to mean apologising humbly.
Spend time in honest prayer today and ask God to reveal if you need to apologize. It could be that a special relationship is on the verge of resurrection, if you would courageously apologize and seek to reconcile with God’s help.
