Asking Forgiveness of Others

Asking forgiveness of others –

The difficult journey we don’t want to make.

Patuxent Presbyterian Church

Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Matthew 5:23-24          
Luke 15:11-24              
Luke 15:25-32

The difficult journey we don’t want to make, 
involves the following steps:

THE JOURNEY INVOLVES WORSHIP - The healing of a broken place in a relationship where we need to go to someone and ask them to forgive us is framed by worship:

“… offering your gift at the altar ... leave your gift at the altar … be reconciled ... then come and offer your gift.” ~ Matthew 5:23, 24

This can be structured worship as on Sunday morning or an attitude or disposition of worship in our hearts toward the Lord, but it is in such a context the Holy Spirit brings to mind the names of those to whom we need to go and ask forgiveness.

THE JOURNEY INVOLVES REMEMBERING – to remember, recall, call to mind; from “again” and “mind.”

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.” ~ Matthew 5:23-24

“Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.” ~ Step Eight of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous

THE JOURNEY INVOLVES GOING AND BEING RECONCILED Greek NT – verb to change, to cause one thing to cease and another to take its place.

English - prefix “re” again or back + verb “conciliare” bring together = to bring back together.

“First, go and be reconciled to your brother; …” ~ Matthew 5:24

“I apologize” or “Please forgive me”?

An apology = apologia = (apologetics) = a speech in one’s own self-defense.  
In an apology the other person receives something: “I apologize.” – “I accept your apology.”

Request for forgiveness = to give up desire to punish, and instead, to pardon.

Our request gives them an opportunity: “Please forgive me.” – Their response gives us a gift: “I forgive you.”  

The story of the prodigal son is a study in the dynamics of hurt, forgiveness and reconciliation.

MONDAY MORNING

Write the names of those you need to go to and ask for forgiveness. Will you ‘go?’

Pray: 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; 
test me and know my anxious thoughts. 
See if there is any offensive way in me, 
and lead me in the way everlasting.”  
~ Psalm 139:23-24

“Forgiveness is God’s invention for coming to terms with a world in which, despite their best intentions, people are unfair to each other and hurt each other deeply. He begins by forgiving us. And he invites us all to forgive each other.”  ~ Lewis Smedes, Forgive and Forget ©1984