“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2, NIV84)
There is really no way to fulfill the scripture above without saying “I’m sorry!” at one point or another. “Being completely humble” reminds you that you make mistakes, fail, sin, and make bad choices. Being “gentle” and “patient” requires self-examination revealing that the world doesn’t revolve around you and that some things in life take time. Finally, Ephesians 4:2 is clear that “agape love” needs to be infused in all your relationships. Without “bearing with one another in love”, you will become resentful, judgmental, and/or demanding. Lastly, until you realize that you are part of the problem, you cannot really be humble before the Lord!
There is no way around the fact that you mess up in life. You may ignore God’s will, overlook “God-time”, lack the patience for prayer, allow little irks eat away at your calm, or become selfish or self-centered if blessed greatly. In your dealings with other people, it’s all too easy to become jaded with those who are lazy, angry at those who are hurtful, worried when things don’t go your way, or vengeful when done wrong. The scripture from Ephesians 4:2 offers a prescription for all these errors. You must endeavor to be “completely humble and gentle”, “patient”, while infused with a godly “love” for others. In essence, the words “I’m sorry” should be part of your natural vocabulary. You are not perfect. The world doesn’t revolve around your wishes. You are human, fallible, apt to mess up!
Even God expects an “I’m sorry” from you often. God knows that you sin, lack humility, fail at grace, develop an unforgiving attitude, and can be the opposite of loving at critical moments. That’s why God requires repentance on your part. Repenting is your way of saying “I am sorry” while at the same time making a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn away from sin. So, not only must you confess your sin regularly, but repentance is also required for faithfulness. You cannot be repentant without humility. You cannot be truly sorry for your sin without allowing the same grace and love to be extended to others.
Apologizing doesn’t come easily to most of us, whether to others or to God. The most common reason for a lack of apologizing is pridefulness. You don’t want to admit you are the problem! You don’t see your own weaknesses and failings! Jesus questioned the hypocrisy with which people often live: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). Jesus knew that even religious people can become self-centered and judgmental. It is all too easy to overlook one’s failures, neglect to say, “I’m sorry”, and fail to repent before God.
In the 1940s, a small Austrian village was split by a tragic accident when drunken driving caused a fatal crash. Years later, the man who had caused the accident returned, haunted by his past. He found the family of the victim, yet every time he steeled himself to say, 'I’m sorry,' the words choked in his throat. His fear of rejection held him captive. He couldn’t bring himself to do it. He left town without saying anything, hoping they would all forget the pain he caused years before.
The only problem was that the driver never felt forgiven. He never healed. By failing to face his past, deal with his tragic errors, and admit he was truly sorry for his actions, the man never got past the pain. Where God would have had him say “I’m sorry!”, repent, and let it go, the driver’s fears of rejection or hate ate away at his soul the rest of his life. It was a constant source of depression.
Saying “I’m sorry” can not only bring healing, but it can also free up the possibilities for forgiveness and grace. Failing to be humble enough or loving enough to say those words will alter your spiritual reality. It will stunt your spiritual growth. It will add to the weight on your shoulders. It could be “the” thing that keeps you from a deep relationship with Christ Jesus!
There is no way around the fact that you mess up in life. You may ignore God’s will, overlook “God-time”, lack the patience for prayer, allow little irks eat away at your calm, or become selfish or self-centered if blessed greatly. In your dealings with other people, it’s all too easy to become jaded with those who are lazy, angry at those who are hurtful, worried when things don’t go your way, or vengeful when done wrong. The scripture from Ephesians 4:2 offers a prescription for all these errors. You must endeavor to be “completely humble and gentle”, “patient”, while infused with a godly “love” for others. In essence, the words “I’m sorry” should be part of your natural vocabulary. You are not perfect. The world doesn’t revolve around your wishes. You are human, fallible, apt to mess up!
Even God expects an “I’m sorry” from you often. God knows that you sin, lack humility, fail at grace, develop an unforgiving attitude, and can be the opposite of loving at critical moments. That’s why God requires repentance on your part. Repenting is your way of saying “I am sorry” while at the same time making a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn away from sin. So, not only must you confess your sin regularly, but repentance is also required for faithfulness. You cannot be repentant without humility. You cannot be truly sorry for your sin without allowing the same grace and love to be extended to others.
Apologizing doesn’t come easily to most of us, whether to others or to God. The most common reason for a lack of apologizing is pridefulness. You don’t want to admit you are the problem! You don’t see your own weaknesses and failings! Jesus questioned the hypocrisy with which people often live: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). Jesus knew that even religious people can become self-centered and judgmental. It is all too easy to overlook one’s failures, neglect to say, “I’m sorry”, and fail to repent before God.
In the 1940s, a small Austrian village was split by a tragic accident when drunken driving caused a fatal crash. Years later, the man who had caused the accident returned, haunted by his past. He found the family of the victim, yet every time he steeled himself to say, 'I’m sorry,' the words choked in his throat. His fear of rejection held him captive. He couldn’t bring himself to do it. He left town without saying anything, hoping they would all forget the pain he caused years before.
The only problem was that the driver never felt forgiven. He never healed. By failing to face his past, deal with his tragic errors, and admit he was truly sorry for his actions, the man never got past the pain. Where God would have had him say “I’m sorry!”, repent, and let it go, the driver’s fears of rejection or hate ate away at his soul the rest of his life. It was a constant source of depression.
Saying “I’m sorry” can not only bring healing, but it can also free up the possibilities for forgiveness and grace. Failing to be humble enough or loving enough to say those words will alter your spiritual reality. It will stunt your spiritual growth. It will add to the weight on your shoulders. It could be “the” thing that keeps you from a deep relationship with Christ Jesus!
Today's Uplifting Video is about how to repent God's way... Click below to see the video...