“I’m Sorry”

Just two words. So simple, and yet so hard. While the words “I love you” are probably overused to the point of abuse today, few people say those two words, “I’m sorry.” It’s so easy to say “I love you,” and many people say it without truly meaning it…but, “I’m sorry”? No, not many can humble themselves to the point of admitting they are wrong.

It takes guts to say “I’m sorry.” To admit failure is not something the old man enjoys doing. In fact, the old man knows nothing of this thing called wrongdoing and forgiveness. It is not a part of the human nature to apologize. When wrong, we find ways of justifying ourselves and our sin. That is the old man in action. However, the new man, the Spirit of God inside, compels us to speak these words to others and to our God. If the words “I’m sorry” are foreign words to our lips, we can be sure we have a heart problem.

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…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 5:22-24

This morning I was doing my personal devotions when the Lord convicted my heart about some things. I was reading chapter 5, I believe, of Dear Princess, about loving others and treating them well despite how they treat me. Ouch! You see, last night I was unkind to some members of my family. Humanly speaking I had a right to be angry, and I was, but how I handled the matter was not how the new man would have. The old man, the flesh, was taking control of me, making me angry and mean to those I love.

My dad is such an example to me. One of the lessons he has taught me, not with his words, but by his deeds, is how important it is to say the words “I’m sorry.” Many times he will ask for forgiveness even when he is not the guilty party. I’ve seen the amazing results. When the innocent one goes to the guilty one and apologizes, the guilty person cannot resist this loving display of humility. Before you know it a lot of tears are being shed, the guilty person is asking for forgiveness, and then everything is forgotten and life goes on.

Well, like I said, the Lord was convicting my heart as I did my devotions. I could tell things weren’t too peachy between Him and me, because I had something between me and my family. Strife is never of God. So, with all this in mind, I went to the ones I had offended and said those two, difficult words ~ “I’m sorry.” I felt so much better after that! I felt clean again.

A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 29:23

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10

Lord, help me always to be tender towards You and others. Let the words “I’m sorry” be quick to come from my lips.