Friday Devotional 05/17/2013 "I’m Sorry, Man"

[BOFF]

It has been a very busy and challenging last 30 or so days. However, for the last three weeks, the same scriptures of forgiveness, anger, and reconciliation, have been consistent. It has been needed for me, and maybe it will be of some help for you.

I'm posting a devotional from Our Daily Bread by Dave Branon from Thursday:

When my son-in-law Ewing and I attended a sporting event, we enjoyed watching both the game and the people around us.

One of those people showed both the bad and good side of humanity. This man had apparently lost track of his seat. As he was looking for it, he stood squarely between us and the field. A man sitting in front of us also had his view blocked, so he told the guy, "Could you move? We can't see."

The lost man responded sarcastically, "Too bad." A second request got a similar but more heated response. Finally the man moved on. Later came a surprise. He returned and told the man he had blocked, "Hey, I'm sorry, man. I was upset that I couldn't find my seat." They shook hands and the incident ended well.

That interaction made me think. As we go through life striving to find our way, situations may frustrate us and cause us to respond to others in an un-Christlike way. If so, we must ask God to give us the courage to apologize to those we have offended. Our worship, according to Jesus, depends on it (Matt. 5:23-24).



(I added the scripture here)

Matthew 5:22-24

The Message

21-22 "You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

23-24 "This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.





We honor God when we make reconciliation with others a priority. After we have been reconciled, we can then fully enjoy communion with our heavenly Father.

It's not easy, Lord, to swallow our pride and ask
others to forgive us. But You want us to seek
reconciliation before worship can take place.
Help us to seek forgiveness when necessary.

Confession of sin is the soil in which forgiveness flourishes.

God Bless,
David B.

[Roostem33]

David, this is a very good devotion! Thanks for posting it!




Jody