Apology and Choosing Differently”

As we continue in our current sermon series “Broken and Restored”, this week I will be talking about apologizing and the choice that it involves.

As you know, truly apologizing can be very difficult. There is a choice that must be made. We try to ignore the hurt, with the hope that it will go away. We may even get to a point where we convince ourselves that “we have a right to feel the way we do.” Our emotions and feelings need to be examined with a different set of lenses to see if they are sincere. And as we come to terms with the fact that we have hurt someone or that they have even hurt us, we must be honest with ourselves and understand that there is a lot more involved in apologizing than just saying, “I'm sorry.” There must be some sense of regret that we have caused some pain. We have to accept that we need to change our view to begin the restoration.

There is a lot that can be gained from apologizing, so, it must be understood that there are choices that need to be made. When we make our apologies, the hope is that the person we have hurt will forgive us and provide us with another chance at showing how much we value the relationship. The goal must be to restore the relationship.

In principle, we both must make choices that benefit our relationship. Choices that cause us to first search within ourselves to see how sincere we are, and then hopefully, understand the real meaning of our forgiveness which is found in the finished work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

As we continue to move through this Lenten Season, into Passion Week, and then Resurrection Sunday, let’s make the choice to first offer the words of apology and extend our hand in order that we may restore a broken relationship. It is then that we can move on to fulfill the mission we have been called to do, the mission of sharing Christ in and with the world.

Pastor Jerry