We continue in our RESET sermon series. After re-setting our life on a firm foundation, which is Jesus Christ, and resetting our priorities, pastor Bryce has now challenged us to Reset our Relationships. Relationships break. This has been true from the beginning since Adam and Eve have broken God’s trust in the Garden of Eden. And ever since that broken trust, God has been on a mission to restore this broken relationship. Let’s look at 3 aspects this can play out in our lives:
1. How is your relationship with God? Really, how are you and God lately? Are you good with God? Or do you feel anxious about that relationship? – How about writing God a letter? Confess what’s on your heart. Express what you feel is disturbing your relationship with Him. Get right with God.
Obviously, you can’t send that letter by mail. Just place it in your Bible for now. Know that in Jesus, he already went to great lengths to make you right with Him. Through Jesus, He restores your relationship.
2. How is your relationship with the people around you? Take a moment to pray Psalm 139:23-24. What does God bring to your mind? Where have you offended or hurt someone? Where are you called to ask for forgiveness of a brother, a sister, a spouse, a parent, or a child of yours (not an exhaustive list )?
Yes, it is hard to ask for forgiveness. But it is harder to live with a load of guilt.
3. Now examine your own pain? Has someone hurt you? Has someone said something nasty or hurtful? Has someone done something wrong against you? According to Jesus’ instructions, the first thing he asks us to do is to “go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.” Matthew 18:15 (NLT)
Which one of your relationships needs a reset? Over and over, pastor Bryce reminded us that God went to great lengths to make peace a reality for us. And now He calls us to go too and make peace. You might need a mediator or counselor for that, and that’s ok, but we are called to reset our relationships.
Feel free to reach out to the staff of MBIC if you need help with any one of those three steps.
Join us in reading through the entire Bible in one year. Each day of this plan guides you through passages from both the Old and New Testaments, allowing you to see connections between the history of our faith, and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Readings average four chapters in length, so it is posible to do. When you use the YouVersion Bible App, you can even have the app read the Bible text to you – very useful when you are in the car or otherwise occupied with your hand.
All you need to do is click the link to the Bible Plan, which should lead you straight to the Bible app. Your two options are now (1) to read the plan on your own, one day at the time. Or (2) you can make it more fun and rewarding, by sharing the plan with one or more friends, and then even “Talk about it”.
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