Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 2:5-8
We are focusing on sin recovery principle number eight of 12: “We made a list of all persons we have harmed and are willing to make amends.”
The fear of rejection is real, especially when our behavior may have contributed to that fear.
While it is the duty of every believer to forgive, not all are believers, and not every believer is as quick to do what God says. We are all at different points in our growth process. Suffice it to say; we may struggle to reach out to those we’ve offended because we fear rejection. We may fear that they will call us names or characterize us by our actions. I understand.
Face Fear Knowing They Have Weakness Too
However, there is a tightrope we must walk here. The fact is that all have sinned (as we have said before), including the ones we have hurt by our actions or inactions. This is not a fact to be cherished or to throw in anyone else’s face. It is simply the reality that we must keep in mind as we seek to make things right. They, too, have weaknesses and have made errors in life. Therefore, our fear of being judged or rejected may be overblown. It is not like the offended party is God. And if it were God, He has already demonstrated that He is slow to anger and swift to show mercy to those who humble themselves before Him.
I would encourage you to surrender your fear to God and ask Him to strengthen you for the rough road of reconciliation that lies ahead. Pray that He comfort you if your friend or loved one does choose to reject you for a time. Remember that Jesus was despised and rejected by those He came to save. If that happened to Him even though He was innocent, we need to be vulnerable as we grow in reconciliation.
May God be with you as you do whatever is in your power to make amends. If God is for you, who can be against you?
