Jesus modeled the steps necessary to repair bruised and broken relationships.
He loved:
1 John 4:9,10 God has shown us his love by sending his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins.
God took the initiative for peace. He didn't wait for us. Even though we were at fault and showed no desire to make things right with Him, by sending His Son He took the first step. While we were still sinners, He proved His love for us (Romans 5:8).
God gave us the example that we need to take the initiative for restoring relationships.
In order to initiate restoration you must be secure in your relationship with God the Father even as Jesus was.
We demonstrate love by honoring others. Honor is the foundation for healthy relationships.
1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Ephesians 6:2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise.
1 Peter 3:7 The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them.
1 Timothy 5:3 Honor widows who have no families.
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.
He humbled himself:
Philippians 2:8 Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death. (Message Bible)
Start by praying for the other person. Get God involved!
Look for the solution and take responsibility.
Ask yourself: “Where did I go wrong?” “What can I change?”
Get wisdom. (Proverbs 5:23)
Stop the blame game. (Matthew 7:1-5) Blame is to hold another person responsible for perceived faults, be those faults real or imagined. Blaming others makes you hostile, vulnerable to depression, promotes inflammatory thinking and moves the solution out of reach.
He sacrificed His life:
1 Peter 3:18 This is true because Christ suffered for our sins once. He was an innocent person, but he suffered for guilty people so that he could bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was brought to life through his spirit.
Sin had ruined our relationship with God, and only a painful sacrifice could make things right again.
To restore a relationship will require sacrifice and hard work on our part.
He forgave us:
Ephesians 1:7 Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness.
This undeserved kindness can be hard to comprehend by people who live by the slogan, "I don't get mad; I get even!" God doesn't want to get even; He wants to restore us to a right relationship with Himself.
To see relationships restored we will need to forgive (give up our right to get even) others even as God has forgiven us.
