RELATIONAL REPAIR Wisdom Hunters And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. Matthew 8:5-7 I am learning that relationships are like cars—from time to time they break down. If I ignore the regular maintenance of relational repair it will be to my peril. Marriage, parenting, work, family and friends all require ongoing evaluation and consistent investment of time and energy. It is especially necessary for me to prayerfully look for ways to serve those whom I have hurt or have hurt me. Relational repair doesn’t mean a perfect relationship, but one that applies love to the wound. Jesus illustrates this beautifully in His response to the request of a man most despised by the Jewish people. This Roman soldier who had inflicted pain and suffering on Christ’s contemporaries asked Jesus for the healing of one of his prized slaves. This powerful centurion unapologetically asked a favor from one who represented a people persecuted by this leader and his government. Jesus chose healing over hate. The Lord served an evil man for the sake of his faith. “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). Who is asking for help, though they may not deserve your help? Or, do you need help from someone you may have hurt? In either situation, humility and unselfish service go a long way in getting you back in sync with a distant relationship. Go to the offended person and offer help, or go to the one who offended you and offer to serve them. Make restitution in a way that moves the hurt soul toward healing and forgiveness. You can’t change the past, but you can love and serve in the present. Relational repair requires an ongoing conversation to restore trust and intimacy. Most of all, we are wise to keep a healthy relationship with our heavenly Father. It may be our own unconfessed sins that create a chasm between us and Christ. Sin is subtle as it hijacks our intimacy with the Almighty and replaces it with our own idols. Or in the middle of trials and temptations we can forget to trust the Lord and distance ourselves from the very thing we need most in the moment—God’s grace. Confession and repentance position us for relational healing with our heavenly Father. He reciprocates with love, forgiveness and reconciliation with Him! “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me the humble initiative to serve those whom I have hurt and those who have hurt me. Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 7:14; Nehemiah 9:3; Matthew 5:43-48; 1 Peter 3:8
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 14:28:48 +0000