Restore relationships

You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may certainly rebuke your neighbor, but you are not to incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:17-18) 

True, this is part of the Mosaic Law, but Jesus Himself quoted it as the second most important commandment! We all have people who rub us the wrong way. Often times it is someone we once knew well and loved, even like family. Often times it IS family. Maybe they did something wrong to raise our ire. Perhaps they breached our trust, or hurt our feelings. Whatever the issue, Christ commands us to forgive and restore. We are prohibited from holding a grudge and admonished to forgive 490 times if necessary! Clearly harmony, friendships and restored relationships are extremely important to God! 

This makes sense, because our God is a relational God. He exists as 3 in 1, and the 3 are in perfect relationship with one another, loving and glorifying one another. At creation He made man to be in relationship with one another and with Him. Our faith, Christianity, is not a religion, but a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus the Christ and, through Him, with the Father. 

We spend much time pursuing and cultivating relationships, only to treat them as disposable once someone offends us. This is contrary to scripture. Thank goodness God doesn’t reject US when we do something offensive, or NONE of us would be saved! 

Ephesians 4:26-27 says “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” To harbor a grudge is to harbor hatred, which Jesus says is the same as murder. To refuse to attempt. reconciliation then is to sin. It gives the devil a foothold. What is better, avoiding the often difficult work of repairing a once loving relationship, or feeling the pit and misery of anger against someone and grieving the Holy Spirit? 

Let’s face it, Christian. You are, in all likelihood, going to be in heaven with that person who offended you. Wouldn’t it be better to create a little bit of heaven on earth right here and now with harmony? 

Matthew 6:14-15 says it succinctly: “For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.” Don’t let the enemy stoke you into a strained relationship with the Almighty Creator! There is a joy and a peace that comes from not only restoring but strengthening what was once a potential loss. God would that no one be lost. We should, as His image bearers, feel the same. 

If I have harmed you, I want you to know that it was unintentional. I love you and humbly ask your forgiveness. If you have harmed me, I want you to know I love you and have already forgotten it. Just “come home!”