Reconciliation continued from last week's pastor's e-note:

Luke 15:19-21 (the prodigal son to his father) “And am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son.”

Last week: Accept and act upon your guilt. 

Today: Having accepted your guilt now what?

1.      Do not assume upon the grace of forgiveness  (19)

The son realized that he was worthy of nothing. At the end of the day reconciliation demands that the sinner relinquish any claim upon his own interest.

2.      Allow the person you sinned against to do what they choose to do (20)

The father chose to respond in demonstrative love. This love originated and energized from the inside of the father not the behavior of the son.

3.      Acknowledge with great specificity the sin you are dealing with  (21)

The son did not deal in generalities but in light of what he had done against his father. Do not hide your guilt behind general terms but name it and own up to it. Before God, and when needed before man, let us ask for forgiveness.

If anyone comes to you to ask for forgiveness do not interrupt their asking for forgiveness. They need to ask for forgiveness more for themselves than for you.

These steps cannot be side-stepped. They must be taken by each of us who have sinned and those who have sinned against us.