“Apology Accepted” by Justin March

 

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”Ephesians 4:32

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14

I am amazed at how many times I need to ask for forgiveness.  I often let insensitivities escape my lips, and there are many instances where I need to have a better understanding of my surroundings and audience.  I catch myself thinking what I said was harmless, but when nobody in the room even cracks a smile, I know it must have been offensive or inappropriate.

When I was younger, more often than not, I did not even realize when I made a mistake.  Maybe I was just too selfish to comprehend my antics and feel accountable for my actions.  Or, maybe my education on life and social interactions was a little behind.  Whatever the case, there were too many times I found myself feeling bad about a situation I was in, yet I never thought twice about asking someone involved to forgive me.  I guess I felt it showed weakness and a vulnerable side I was not mature enough to understand.

That was before I built a relationship with God.  You see, when your past is full of mistakes, hard lessons, and hurt feelings, it takes a lot of forgiveness to get back on track and try to do better.  It was God who helped me to realize that living in that regret keeps me from being the man he wants me to be.  It was God who told me to rectify any wrongdoings and immediately ask for forgiveness when I lose my way.  And it was God who graciously showed me his love and support were all I needed to live a life based on his perspective and mission for my journey.

The greatest gift that comes from God’s forgiveness is the way it teaches us to forgive one another.  Once I knew how good it felt to be forgiven for my transgressions, it became easier to forgive others when they hurt or wronged me.  I quickly understood that if God could grant his mercy for all the ridiculous things I have done in this life, I too can extend his grace when someone is humble enough to ask for my forgiveness.

Are there relationships in your journey that are difficult to mend?  Is there someone in your life that needs your forgiveness?  Maybe this is the week to do some soul searching and ask God for help.  Maybe this is the week to reach out to an estranged friend or lost relative that needs to know you still love them.  Or, maybe this is the week you need to contact someone you have wronged and ask for their forgiveness.  Whatever the strain may be, remember that God has forgiven us even when our actions are not pleasing to him.  So, if he is all knowing, all loving, and all forgiving, maybe it is time for us to understand that the relationships he gifts to us are too precious to be thrown away.

I pray that you can forgive others as God forgives you.  I pray that you can be humble and admit when you need forgiveness for your wrongdoings.  And I pray that your love for God’s people is so strong that you are able to extend his grace through every interaction, no matter our differences.

Don’t you think that if we take the time to forgive and understand how important our relationships are, our world may experience some healing and become a better place?  I believe so, and a good start may be as simple as saying…”Apology Accepted!”