Vital signs- Wednesday, December 29th, 2021

Restoring Relationships:

Take Initiative To restore a broken relationship, the Bible says you need to take the initiative. It doesn't matter whether you are the offender or the offended, God expects you to make the first move. Don't wait for the other party. Go to them first. Restoring broken fellowship is so important, Jesus commanded that it even take priority over group worship. He said, "If you enter your place of worship and are about to make an offering, but you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God." (Matthew 5:23-24 Msg) When fellowship is strained or broken, plan a peace conference immediately. Don't procrastinate, make excuses, or promise, "I'll get around to it someday." Schedule a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible. Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse. The success of a peace conference often depends on choosing the right time and place to meet. Don't meet when one of you are tired, rushed or could be interrupted. The best time is when you both are at your best.