From; Brenda Walsh Ministries
Genuine Remorse
Everyone makes mistakes at some point in their lives. That’s just a fact. However, that doesn’t mean that they are “bad” . . . it just means they are human. Good people sometimes make bad decisions, but thankfully, they don’t have to pay for their mistakes the rest of their lives. God’s plan of salvation was carried out when Jesus died on the cross and paid the price for our sins. But don’t forget God’s requirement for forgiveness. When you have done something wrong, you need to go to that person and make it right. Put your ego and pride aside and apologize. Be humble enough to say, “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. Please forgive me.” In James 5:16, we’re told, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” If you have hurt someone or acted in a way that wasn’t Christ-like, then go to that person and talk it out. Let them know how sorry you are that you hurt them and ask for forgiveness. Pretending that you haven't done anything wrong and acting like everything is “okay” is not the same as asking for forgiveness or “making it right.” Sweeping it under the carpet because you don’t want to “rehash” the past will only leave you in a state of denial. You can’t move forward with a pure heart if you don’t talk about what you did wrong and show genuine remorse for your actions. Matthew 5:23-24 says, “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” The first step toward forgiveness is to admit to yourself that you made a mistake and own it. If you know you did wrong but have too much pride to admit it, ask God to come into your heart and make you truly sorry and to give you humility and strength to make it right. The second step is to go to that person and ask for forgiveness. Without talking it through and having true repentance, there will always be a barrier and a rift in your relationship, but even worse, you’ll be lost because the Bible says in Matthew 6:15, “But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Don’t let your pride stand in your way of eternity because nothing is worth missing out on heaven - absolutely nothing! Pray for genuine remorse for your sins, and then go to that person and make it right! Text: 2 Corinthians 7:10, Romans 10:10, 1 John 3:20, 2 Chronicles 7:14