Recently, someone asked my husband and I how a person can make things right when they've really wronged another person. Their question got me thinking about what I need personally when someone wrongs me in order to feel that their apology, their repentance for what they did, is sincere. My train of thought led me to thinking about what true, sincere repentance toward God looks like. I realized it's really quite simple-as simple as three little words.
"You are right." Have you ever had a person give you a backhanded apology. For example, "Please forgive me, but you made me lose my temper when you _________." What they are doing is excusing their wrong behavior rather than sincerely apologizing. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the one and only thing in all of the garden that God had forbidden them to do, Adam tried the whole blame shifting thing, too. "And the man said, The woman whom You gave to be with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate." (Genesis 3:12) In other words, "God, the trouble all started with that woman you gave me" was Adam's excuse. True repentance to God doesn't make excuses. It accepts that He is right, His ways are right, and He knows best. (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, August 12th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)
still following,
I agree with you - "left-handed" apologies are the worst. I think that part of maturing is taking responsibility for our behavior at all times, even when it is not exemplary.
ReplyDeleteSo true: apologies with disclaimers do not ring true. And I think we sometimes do this without even realizing it because the drive to self-protect and defend is so ingrained within us. So thankful we have a Savior.
ReplyDeleteI so agree. Self-protection and defense is definitely our default setting, unfortunately.
DeletePlease help me, I need you. I so need to add this to my prayers. As humans, it is hard to concede with repentance that we surrender all so you are so right that those words can also be a daily reminder...He is there for us always.
ReplyDeletePeabea from Peabea Scribbles
Yield has been my word for 2018-it is a word for surrender and also a word used for harvest, as in "yield a fruitful crop". I think the two definitions are related. As I surrender and admit I am continual need of God and His help, I am a properly attached branch to the Vine that is my only hope for support and sustenance. Then the fruit comes because of that attachment.
DeleteLooks like you had a fantastic time at the beach and congratulations to your friend on her good medical report. Wishing you a lovely week.
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