Step Eight ~ Week One

Reconciliation is a part of the RESTITUTION process.

As part of the process of change, I will identify and record everyone I have harmed and through prayer become willing to make restitution to them.

Proverbs 14:9  Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

Once upon a time, we made fun of repairing relationships that have long been damaged. Recovery is a time for each of us to do all we can to repair them.

Reconciliation with others is important TO GOD
Matthew 5:23-24 If you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

Are there people you are still holding resentments towards? People you find it impossible to forgive or to seek forgiveness from? Step eight is about letting go and becomng willing to change, not other people but ourselves. With God’s help, we can become better people and let go of the grudges we have allowed for so long to ruin our lives. Through this step, God is calling us to be willing to do our part and leave the results in His hands.

RECONCILIATION WITH OTHERS IS IMPORTANT TO OUR HEALTH AND PEACE OF MIND
Matthew 5:25-26 When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.

It’s time to settle our differences, and maybe fess up to something we have always known was partly our fault but were too proud and stubborn to accept any of the blame. Sometimes the things that hurt us hurt others just as much but no one wants to make the first move to put them right. There is a book I read in 1987 called ‘Sobriety and Beyond’ by Father John Doe. All through the book, there is a saying quoted that says ‘ACTION IS THE MAGIC WORD’ Step eight is a time to get readt to act. It is a book that convinced me in 1987 before I became a Christian that if I wanted to get serious about recovery I had to get to know God.

I believed then and I still believe that all of us outgrow Alcoholics Anonymous. We come face to face with God and have to make a decision to get to know and to follow Him or go back to our old ways, The choice is ours!

GOD THROUGH JESUS HAS MADE A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO BE RECONCILED
Ephesians 2:14 Christ himself is our way of peace. He has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one family, breaking down the wall of contempt that used to separate us.

We are one in the bond of love! God wants us all to come to Him through faith in Jesus and break the bonds of separation that are stopping us from moving forward with Him and with others.

GOD WANTS US TO BE RECONCILED WITH HIM
Colossians 1:20 Through the Son, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

THROUGH THE DEATH OF JESUS GOD MADE A WAY FOR OUR RECONCILIATION WITH HIM
Colossians 2:14  God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross.

THE WAY TO RECONCILIATION IS CLEAR
Romans 5:1  By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God.

GOD’S PROMISE TO YOU
Colossians 1:22  Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God’s presence without sin, fault, or blame.