How to be an Offering: Confession – Update

Ryan Egan —  March 15, 2007 — Leave a comment

Last week I wrote about the step that so many of us often miss in confession; confessing not just to God but to each other.

Last night our vicar (intern pastor) nailed it out of the park with a way I’ve never thought about before.  He said that when we sin, we tear apart two relationships.  The first one, our relationship with God, is torn apart by our sin, but with confession to Him, the blood of Jesus mends that relationship and makes it new.  Praise God for that!!

But, the second relationship that is torn apart is the one between us and our brother or sister in Christ.  The problem here is that, yes, we’re forgiven by the blood of Jesus, but it’s up to us to mend this second broken relationship.

The book of Ephesians gives us some great things to think about concerning mending our earthly relationships:

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27.

The Greek for “foothold” literally means guest room. When we hold on to grudges and bitterness and all sorts of things that tear apart our earthly relationships, we give Satan a room to dwell in.

Today, don’t let the sun go down without resolving these conflicts that you may be dealing with.  Offer the truth to your neighbor, and healing will take place.

Do you need to reconcile your relationship with someone today?

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Ryan Egan

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Ryan is a follower of Christ, husband, father, worship leader, & creative. He is heavily involved in the Association of Free Lutheran Churches and desires to teach others to live a life of worship in everything they do.