"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering." Matt 5:23-24
In the 1971 movie "Love Story," Jennifer Cavilleri, a character played by Ali McGraw uttered the phrase, "Love means not ever having to say you're sorry." Since that time, it has become a part of our social consciousness. This is unfortunate. It highlights our lack of willingness to take responsibility for our actions. In short, we fail to realize the importance of a simple apology.
Beloved, we sometimes have a tendency to sweep things under the rug. We think that if we just say nothing, it will all somehow go away. This is furthered if the affected party says nothing. Know that God is not pleased with this behavior. We are expected to take responsibility for our actions and own up to our wrongs. Even in our relationship with the Almighty, confession comes before repentance and that before forgiveness.
Failure to apologize adds insult to injury and prolongs the strain on the relationship. Both parties and potentially all who know them suffer. With the consistent scriptural call to love others as ourselves, we cannot expect that God will allow our relationship with Him to have the status of "business as usual." In order to be right with Him, we must be right with each other.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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