Speedy Apologies & Fast Forgiveness Keep Walls From Being Built

Matthew 5:23,24; Colossians 3:13

Hurtful words and actions add bricks to walls that begin to separate people; speedy apologies and fast forgiveness pull the bricks out of the wall.

Soul Food

Matthew 5:23,24

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

Colossians 3:13

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Soul Search

• Has someone hurt you or offended you and that hurt/offense has compromised your relationship with them?
  Can you talk about it?

• Is it possible that the person who has injured you doesn’t even know that they have hurt you?
  Can you bring the situation up to them and talk about it?
  Why or why not?

• Are you aware of relationships you have – or have had – that have been compromised somehow but you don’t know why?
  You just know that something is ‘off’ and isn’t quite right?
  Is it possible you have hurt or offended someone but didn’t know it?

• Is there a relationship that you once valued highly but that has been hurt or ruined in some way?
  You know there is a stalemate in the relationship but someone has to make the first move.
  Can you be that person to make the first move?
  Why or why not?

Soul Moves

• None of us are always highly sensitive or discerning.
  If someone has hurt you, as much as you think they should know they did something wrong, is it possible they are clueless?
  Consider going to them to talk about it.

• Ask God in prayer to bring to your memory relationships that have been hurt or injured in some way.
  Ask Him if there is something He wants you to do - and maybe that you need to do - to bring healing and possibly restoration to that relationship.

• Make a decision, as far as the relationships you have, to be a wall destroyer rather than a wall builder.
  Ask God if there are bricks that you are responsible for to remove from walls that have been built.

• Ask God in prayer to give you the courage, strength, and humility to be the person to make the first move in restoring one or more relationships.