"Therefore, if ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee—
Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you."
3 Nephi 12:23-24
This is an important thing to remember I think. As we work to build a relationship with God, our conflicts with other people can get in the way of that. We need to clear those things up so that we aren't distracted or left with guilt in our lives that can pull us away from God. Only when our consciences are clear can we go unto God with "full purpose of heart."
This definitely isn't a simple thing. Repentance can be difficult, and sometimes it is hard to tell which offenses we need to apologize directly for, and which we can just let go of, especially after a long time has passed. I definitely am not the expert on that difference, but I think that the verse gives us a hint. If it is something that we keep remembering, then that is likely the spirit prompting us to do something about it. If we can face God or think of the Judgement Day without that popping up, then maybe we're okay, and we just need to resolve it with God. God will help us know the difference as we pray and work to become people with clear consciences.
God loves his other children as well as he loves us, and if sometimes we need an apology or resolution to a wrong in our lives, maybe they do too. The most important thing though is likely "if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you" (3 Nephi 13:14). We need to work on being at peace with other people both through repentance and forgiveness... and hopefully even beyond that, friendship. It's not a mistake that we are here on Earth with others rather than running solo simulations about different choices. :) People and relationships are part of the program, and the source of great joy.
Today, let's work on reconciliation and repentance so that God will receive us, and also so that we can be at peace with others, and maybe even get some enjoyment out of those relationships again.
Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you."
3 Nephi 12:23-24
This is an important thing to remember I think. As we work to build a relationship with God, our conflicts with other people can get in the way of that. We need to clear those things up so that we aren't distracted or left with guilt in our lives that can pull us away from God. Only when our consciences are clear can we go unto God with "full purpose of heart."
This definitely isn't a simple thing. Repentance can be difficult, and sometimes it is hard to tell which offenses we need to apologize directly for, and which we can just let go of, especially after a long time has passed. I definitely am not the expert on that difference, but I think that the verse gives us a hint. If it is something that we keep remembering, then that is likely the spirit prompting us to do something about it. If we can face God or think of the Judgement Day without that popping up, then maybe we're okay, and we just need to resolve it with God. God will help us know the difference as we pray and work to become people with clear consciences.
God loves his other children as well as he loves us, and if sometimes we need an apology or resolution to a wrong in our lives, maybe they do too. The most important thing though is likely "if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you" (3 Nephi 13:14). We need to work on being at peace with other people both through repentance and forgiveness... and hopefully even beyond that, friendship. It's not a mistake that we are here on Earth with others rather than running solo simulations about different choices. :) People and relationships are part of the program, and the source of great joy.
Today, let's work on reconciliation and repentance so that God will receive us, and also so that we can be at peace with others, and maybe even get some enjoyment out of those relationships again.
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