“Therefore confess your
sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The
prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16 New
International Version
It was and is important not only to
confess our sins to God, but to our offended brethren. Sin can easily drive a
wedge between one or more people thus causing eventual division if left
unforgiven. Since the Lord has forgiven us of such a great number of sins,
should we not forgive one another?
Depending on who is affected, we may need
to seek forgiveness from an individual or an entire congregation; the fact
remains that forgiveness must be sought. The onus is now on the offended party
to offer the forgiveness that is sought. It is just as important to give the
forgiveness sought, as it is to seek it, for without forgiveness there is still
a rift.
Too many times the offended party wishes
to make the offender suffer guilt or shame prior to their eventual forgiveness.
Did God make us suffer guilt or shame? We may have felt it, but it was
not God who made us feel it. The offended party should never play the
part of god by lording their position in the matter over the offender. Honest
indiscretion can provide it’s own guilt. Rubbing salt in the wound, so to
speak, is not what God would do, nor is it what he would want us to do either.
Forgiveness given out of genuine love for the offender should rule the day.
Seeing others as God sees them makes this possible. Until next time, walk with
the King and be a blessing!
Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.
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