“When a man or a woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed.” (vs. 6-7)
In Scripture, there is a definite connection between our relationships with each other and our relationship with God. In this passage, that connection is clear: wronging another person = sinning against God. The sin must be confessed and restitution must be made. It works both ways: When there are hurt feelings between us and a friend, if unresolved, that will harm our relationship with God. And if we are not in regular communication with God through prayer and the Word, or if there are un-confessed sins in our hearts, that will have a negative impact on our relationships with others. As we saw in 1 John, to truly love others we need to receive God’s love. Our relationships matter. Lord, please help us to receive and live in Your love today.