“Stop, Go, Reconcile, and then Return”

Praise the Lord Beloved!!! Happy Monday to Everyone!!! 😀

Allow me to ask you this question.: “What if you’ve gathered the courage to approach someone you’ve offended or felt you’ve offended and wanted to move on. You’ve confessed what you did with sincerity. You’ve asked for forgiveness. But he or she refuses to forgive you.
Now what? 😀

I’m sure many of you “like myself” have come to this crossroad or on this crossroad. Well I have an answer for you. 😀

Beloved, the important thing for each of us to remember is that you’re responsible for you, and I’m responsible for me. Romans 12:18 AMP says: 18 “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”. Beloved, with the right motive, in the right spirit, at the right time, out of obedience to God, we’re to humble ourselves and attempt to make things right. God “WILL” honor our efforts.

The one offended may need time first to get over the shock and next to have God bring about a change in his or her heart. Healing sometimes takes time. Occasionally, a lot of time.

Now, there may be someone out there reading this blog and asking: “Bishop Houston, “What if the situation only gets worse?” This is a very good question!!! – And I’m Glad You Asked. 😀 This can happen. You see, all the time the one offended has been blaming you… Thinking all kinds of bad things about you. When you go to make things right, you suddenly cause his or her inner scales to become unbalanced. You take away the blame, and all that’s left is the person’s guilt, which does a number on him or her, resulting in even worse feelings. But now, it’s no longer your fault. 😀

Now, there may be somebody else out there reading this blog that’s asking: Well, Bishop Houston, “What if I decide simply to deal with it before God and not go through the aggravation and embarrassment of talking with the other person?” This is another great question!!! 😀 And I’m glad you too have asked!! 😀 Well, we’ll do “anything” to make things easier, won’t we? 😀  First off Beloved, that’s a willful contradiction of the command. To paraphrase Jesus what said in Matthew 5:24 “Stop, go, reconcile, and return!”).  “NOT” to go is direct disobedience!!! 😀 It also can result in things getting worse.

Let me give you an example: Let’s say I’m driving away from your church parking lot next Sunday morning. I back my Lincoln MKZ car into the side of your beautiful new Mercedes. BANG!!! Your stomach churns as you see me get out of my car, look at the damage – and then bow in prayer:

Dear LORD, DEAR Heavenly Father, please forgive me for being so preoccupied and clumsy. And please give this dear brother/sister grace as he/she sees the extensive damage I’ve caused out of absolute carelessness. And provide what’s needed as he/she takes this car in to have it fixed. Thank you. In the might name of Jesus, I pray, Amen and Amen.

As I drive away, I wave and smile really big as I yell out the window, “It’s all cleared up, my friend. I claimed the damage before God. Isn’t grace wonderful!”

Now, tell me, how do you feel about that? I have rather strong doubts that it would suddenly make things okay with you, no matter how sincere my prayer might have been. You and I know that would do no good. You would say or scream loudly as my mother use to say, me “I will lay my religion down at the door and (with very hard-core words)” after it.: -D

Beloved, the Savior does not say, “Simply pray and I’ll forgive you.” In fact, He says, “Stop praying until you’ve made things right!”

Now, there may be someone out there asking Ok Bishop Houston, I ‘ve read your blog, so answer this question for me: “What if it’s impossible for me to reconcile because the offended person has died?” This is absolutely a great question.!!! And, I’m Glad you asked also!! 😀

Well, obviously, you cannot contact the dead. In such unique cases, I recommend that you share your burden of guilt with someone whom you can trust. A close friend, a companion, a counselor, or your pastor. Don’t beat around the bush. You must be specific and completely candid. Pray with that individual and confess openly the wrong and the guilt of your soul. In such cases—and only in such cases—prayer and the presence of an understanding, affirming individual can provide the relief you need so desperately.

Beloved, when you’ve been the cause of an offense or you feel you’ve been the cause of an offense and you want to move past the indifference, have the heart of a servant. Stop, go, reconcile, and then return.

Have a Blessed Monday Everyone!!! 😀