NEW PERSON – NEW RULES – NEW ACTIONS

Step-9 requires that we make direct amends to the people we have harmed, except when to do so would further harm them or others. Making a list of those we harmed was not easy for us and becoming willing to make amends seems even harder. God was likely not on our radar when we did the things that harmed others but by our offense against them, we also offended God. 

God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness. (Acts 3:26 ESV)

The new person we have become acts with different rules than the old person we once were.  That’s because we gave our will and life over to the care of God and were reconciled to Him through accepting the finished work of Jesus on our behalf. The offences we committed against God have been acquitted and we have been restored to that place where we are free from all our sin.  In the eyes of God, we are just as if we had never sinned. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18 ESV)

God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, just as we came to God and asked His forgiveness, we now need to go to those we have harmed and ask for their forgiveness.  The work that God has done in us and the new nature we have received will help us do those things that God desires for us to do. We have been given a Power greater than ourselves, the Holy Spirit, and He will strengthen us to do those things we need to do so that we may be reconciled with others.

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for Jesus who paid the price for my sin and reconciled me to You. Please give me the will and desire to make direct amends to those I have harmed and where possible seek reconciliation. Amen