Quit making excuses and
Understand your part.
IMMEDIATELY
Consider your motives and the other’s heart.
Know that bitterness and resentment comes when offenses
Linger without repentance and forgiveness.
Your duty is to make things right and erase the chart.

The Lord is totally into us and our relationships. He loves it when we get along, but He knows there will be times when we have words with the people we care about. Those moments of discord don’t separate us from the love of God, but it gives us an opportunity to draw closer to Him. It gives us a chance to show our love for Him by obeying His word. We are to quickly repent, and quickly forgive.

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 5:25 – 26 that when we have disputes with someone we are to quickly make things right. In the scripture, Jesus points out that both parties are doing something. One is accusing, the other is defending. The accuser is taking the offender to court. We may not be going to court, but the Lord sees what we are doing. He is listening to the prayers and cries of the person we offend. He also sees the unforgiveness in the heart of the accuser.

That is why moving quickly to resolve the issue is important. When we hurt someone, we know it, but in our shame or embarrassment we might delay doing what we know is correct. When we make the first move to reconcile, we will not only make the wounded person feel better, but can strengthen the relationship. The relationship improves because we address the issue, make corrections, and drop it for good (erase the chart). If we are the offended, we are to forgive and make peace by letting the issue go. The case is settled in God’s court.

Matthew 5:25 – 26

²⁵ “If anyone wants to take you to court, make friends with them quickly. Try to do that before you get to the court. If you don’t, they might hand you over to the judge. And the judge will hand you over to a guard, who will throw you into jail. ²⁶ I assure you that you will not leave there until you have paid everything you owe.