Editor's note: Yesterday, we shared a devotion from O. S. Hawkins' Just Jesus. You can read it here and then read today's devotion below.
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Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. — Philippians 2:3 NET
When relationships are broken, our general tendency is to see ourselves only as the offended party. And this is exactly at the heart of why some of us live a lifetime with broken relationships discarded along our path of life. Few of us really want to admit that we are the offending party. In our minds, the problem is usually someone else’s fault. Few of us are keen on taking personal responsibility for breakdowns in our relationships. We have been programmed since our childhood to point the finger of accusation at someone else. But isn’t there a little of runaway servant Onesimus, the one who returned to Philemon in humility, in all of us? Could it be that we have something to learn from him?
- Onesimus went back! And he did so with sincere remorse and regret that led to genuine repentance.
Philemon had no choice but to receive him and let the party begin.
How might you need to take responsibility for a relational problem?
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Openness Helps Build Bridges
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. — Proverbs 27:9 NIV
In relationships, we will do one of two things with others: We will build a bridge, or we will build a barrier.
When we build bridges instead of barriers, we will have more loyal and lasting friendships.
The best way to start building bridges is to be open with others. To encourage building bridges is not to suggest letting anyone and everyone cross over into the private turf of the hidden things of the heart. Openness with others is no call to reveal every single detail about our lives to anyone who will listen. We all have our private moments that are no one else’s business. We are talking about bridges here, not some wide-open Autobahn or interstate highway.
We are talking about the need to be open in our relationships with one another. Something wonderful happens when two people connect with each other in openness and honesty. Openness has its own way of building bridges in relationships.
How can you be more intentional about being open to others as you build bridges in your relationships?
Excerpted with permission from Just Jesus by O. S. Hawkins, copyright Dr. O. S. Hawkins.
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Your Turn
How are you dealing with rifts in relationships? What might change if you took humble responsibility? Jesus modeled building bridges with people who His disciples never would have been willing to even talk to. He loved those who rejected and betrayed Him and He forgave even the ones who crucified Him! If He could do that, we can certainly have grace for those with whom we’re in conflict. ~ Devotionals Daily