Relationships are always
worth restoring!
“If you've gotten
anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in
your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you … Agree
with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.” Philippians
2:1-2 (MSG)
Because life is all
about learning how to love, God wants us to value relationships and make the
effort to maintain them instead of discarding them whenever there is a rift, a
hurt, or a conflict.
Paul taught that our
ability to get along with others is a mark of spiritual maturity. If you want
God’s blessing on your life and you want to be known as a child of God, you
must learn to be a peacemaker. Here are seven biblical steps to restoring
fellowship:
1. Talk to God before
talking to the person.
2. Always take the
initiative.
3. Sympathize with their
feelings.
4. Confess your part of
the conflict.
5. Attack the problem,
not the person.
6. Cooperate as much as
possible.
7. Emphasize
reconciliation, not resolution.
Who do you need to
contact as a result of reading this today? With whom do you need to restore
fellowship? Don’t delay another second. Pause right now and talk to God about
that person. Then pick up the phone and begin the process.
It takes a lot of effort
to restore a relationship. That’s why Peter urged, “Work hard at living in
peace with others.” Hebrews 12:14
When
you work for peace, you are doing what God would do. That’s why God calls
peacemakers his children. Amen?
