September 28, 2009Restoring Relationships: Take the initiativeRestaurando Relacionamentos: Tome a iniciativa.by Rick Warren "If you enter your place of worship and are about to make an offering, but you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God" (Matthew 5:23-24 Msg)."Portanto, se voce estiver apresentando sua oferta diante do altar e ali se lembrar de que seu irmao tem algo contra voce,deixe sua oferta ali, diante do altar, e va primeiro reconciliar-se com seu irmao; depois volte e apresente sua oferta." (Mateus 5:23,24 NVI).The second biblical step toward restoring a relationship is to take the initiative.O segundo passo biblico para restaurar relacionamentos e tomar a iniciativa.It doesn't matter whether you are the offender or the offended, God expects you to make the first move. Don't wait for the other party. Go to them first.Nao importa se voce e quem ofendeu ou o ofendido, Deus espera que voce tome a iniciativa. Nao espere a outra parte. Va ate ela primeiro.Restoring broken fellowship is so important, Jesus commanded that it even take priority over group worship. He said, "If you enter your place of worship and are about to make an offering, but you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God" (Matt. 5:23-24 Msg).Restaurar relacionamentos quebrados e muito importante, Jesus comanda que isto e prioridade na adoracao coletiva. Ele diz, "Portanto, se voce estiver apresentando sua oferta diante do altar e ali se lembrar de que seu irmao tem algo contra voce,deixe sua oferta ali, diante do altar, e va primeiro reconciliar-se com seu irmao; depois volte e apresente sua oferta." (Mateus 5:23,24 NVI).When fellowship is strained or broken, plan a peace conference immediately. Don't procrastinate, make excuses, or promise, "I'll get around to it someday." Schedule a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible. Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse.Quando um relacionamento e abalado ou quebrado, pleneje uma reuniao de paz imediatamente. Nao prorrogue, nao de desculpas ou invente promessas, "eu vou resolver isso um dia." Marque um encontro face-a-face assim que possivel. Demora apenas torna o ressentimento mais profundo e aumenta os problemas.In conflict, time heals nothing; it causes hurts to fester.Em conflito, o tempo nao cura nada; so faz o machucado inflamar.Acting quickly also reduces the spiritual damage to you. The Bible says sin, including unresolved conflict, blocks our fellowship with God and keeps our prayers from being answered, besides making us miserable. Job's friends reminded him, "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do," (Job 5:2, TEV) and "You're only hurting yourself with your anger" (Job 18:4, TEV).Agir com rapidez tambem reduz os danos espirituais. A Biblia diz que pecado, incluindo conflitos nao resolvidos, bloqueia nosso relacionamento com Deus e nao permite que nossas oracoes sejam respondidas, alem de nos