Be reconciled to your brother.

     Our relationship with God, and our relationship with our fellow man are inseparable. How we relate to God will affect how we relate to one another, and how we treat our fellow man will impact the relationship we have with God.
     The world operates on a selfish principle. People are looking out for number one, ignoring the needs around them, and stepping on each other as they climb to the top. People get hurt and offended all the time, and the offenders shrug it off.
     Jesus introduces a different principle however. It is based on love. Love to God, and love to our fellow man. Love is not self seeking, instead it looks out for others even to the expense of ourselves. We are taught in the scriptures to forgive those who offend us, even as Christ has forgiven us. An unforgiving attitude puts our relationship with God in jeopardy. If we will not forgive, He will not forgive (Matt 6:14,15). Jesus also teaches us to go when we have wronged someone, and make it right (Matt 5:23,24). A heart that has been humbled by the love and mercy of God will see that we can do no less. If I have offended someone by unkind words, and then felt convicted and confessed it to God, but went no further, how would that look? What would the offended party think if I told them "It's ok, God forgave me." but I never offered them an apology? Instead Jesus says to go and be reconciled. Do it quickly! It is a priority. Even if you are on the way to worship God, go first to your offended brother, then come back and worship.
     It is a proud heart that will not go and admit we are wrong. Pride will keep us from a heartfelt apology. Pride will also destroy the fellowship we have with God. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
     Our relationship with God requires that we confess our sins to Him. Likewise our relationships with each other require the same. Without this, a relationship might continue, patched up a little, but the trust is gone. For a true reconciliation to occur, confession and restitution are vital. Even if the other person chooses not to forgive us, we have done what we could in a true spirit of humility, and God knows.