That was the perfect intro to one subject that's been on my mind. I don't know about you but saying "I'm sorry" can be a truly humbling experience. (I know cause I have to do it A LOT) It's hard but I do it. That's something I think we've come to toss around like it's nothing. On one of our lasts days at our old church I really said something rude, and it wasn't just the words, but the tone was horrible. When I went to apologize the man said, "Ok.". I looked him straight in the eyes and said, "I'm not saying "I'm sorry" I'm sincerely apologizing for the way I spoke to you, both what I said and the way I said it." People are taken aback, because I don't want someone to say "it's okay", obviously it was NOT okay, I want someone to know that I am sincere, that I mean it, and I want them to accept my apology and forgive me. If I told you what it was about, you would agree that it would be frustrating, and if I told you what I said you would maybe even agree with my choice of words, but if you had heard the WAY I said it, you'd gasp a little, click your tongue, shake your head, and say "Jen, it's just not okay to talk that way to people." I ask you to watch in your everyday lives how many times you say "sorry", and how many times people say "it's okay" and how often things would be better rectified by a sincere humble apology.
When we come to our Father and say "sorry" He will accept it, if we continue the behavior and say "sorry" it starts to lose meaning, we have to say "sorry" with our whole heart and ask that the Lord forgive us. We should be beacons of His Light to others and continue on in this way.
Apologizing to anyone (especially the Lord) can be completely humbling. How do you like your crow? *I like mine deep fried and covered in gravy* Think of a time where someone went against you and a sincere apology would go a long way to rectify your feelings. We're sincere with the Lord, let's be sincere with each other.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
*The Jesus Loving Princess**Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Luke 6:22 *
I find it even more humbling to ask for forgiveness instead of saying sorry. It pretty much means the same thing, but it's acknowledging that you didn't just mess up, but that you sinned against the other person. I also have taught my kids to never say it's okay if it wasn't. They are to always forgive, but not grant permission for someone to sin again.
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