October 9, 2026
Friday, October 9
We cannot fool God. If there’s someone who we’ve hurt or offended, all the religion and external morality in the world won’t make us right with Him—Jesus made that clear in Matthew 5:21-26. Unfortunately, we can’t take back the hateful words we said, or the cruel things we did. There’s no putting the toothpaste back into the tube. But Tim Keller, in his book Forgive, offers the best advice I’ve ever read about pursuing reconciliation. First, we confess everything, without reservation or excuse. Second, we listen well, allowing them to tell us in detail how we hurt them. Then, we take things one more step:
Repent. This means more than saying “I’m sorry.” It’s asking yourself, “I someone had hurt me like I hurt this person, how could they make it up to me ?” If someone stole money from you, you’d want them to pay you back. If someone was constantly angry with you, you’d want them to seek help managing their temper. If someone gossiped about you, you’d want them to go to all those people and that what they said about you wasn’t true. Repentance means truly taking responsibility for what you’ve done, making it up to them if you can, and taking practical steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
So…let’s get brutally honest. I am sure some of you who read these devotionals can name people who are upset with you. And if you’re one of them, you probably know that Keller’s instructions are likely to work. If you met with this person, confessed what you did, listened to their pain, and took steps to repair the damage, they would most likely forgive you. And even if they didn’t, you could live with peace in your heart, knowing you’d done all you could. But, sadly, most Christians still won’t take those steps. As a pastor, I’ve known countless believers who live with ongoing conflict in their lives, renouncing any sense of responsibility. That’s as great a sign of hypocrisy, as much an abomination in the eyes of God, as a preacher who cheats on his wife. And furthermore, it’s a miserable way to live.
If I’ve just described you, I beg you, for the sake of Christ and for your own happiness, to repent.
“Lord, soften my stubborn heart to the breaking point, so that I will never refuse to do what you’ve commanded. Let me offer you sincere worship from a heart that is pure. That is what you deserve, Lord Jesus, and I pray this in your name, amen.”
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Conroe
More from Pastor Jeff at his website: jeffbergerwriting.com
