Scripture Text: "And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me." Gen 33:10 (KJV)

"I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me."

Now that verse probably doesn't sound like much to someone who has never known the separation of father and son, mother and daughter, or husband and wife, but let me tell you as a Pastor who has picked up the pieces so many times - It's a BIG DEAL!

Anger and misunderstanding are the tools in Satan's belt that he uses all to well to split up homes and families; best friends; businesses... even governments.

Healing and Harmony, on the other hand, are anointing balms that mend and refresh and restore and make new! The problem is which will you choose to "fix" your relationship?

When Esau spotted Jacob afar off, it wouldn't have been uncommon for humans - since it happens all the time, to have everything that Jacob did to him come flooding back in like a torrent gush of seething anger, yet his response was simple and childlike as he ran to his brother and hugged him and the Bible says, "he kissed him". (ref., Genesis 33:4)

Now, there was a small phrase that I left off of my reading of the that verse, that was tagged on at the very end as an addendum to the sentence - almost as if to highlight it. Well, it worked! I saw it, and I've grabbed it and I want to myself highlight it if I may to help you see the importance of weeping - especially in a struggle of the wills, and especially between two people who are blood related or have ties by wedlock that were founded and based upon the heart and soul of love.

Many such marriages and "partnerships", as the WORLD is trying to call them - downplaying the weightiness of what that "genderic" weaving of one man and one woman is to that "one-ness" of mind, will and heart; that "life-sealing" if you will... yet to many who unite themselves in such a bond, it is something that is more than a word or and idea or an act, it is a marriage.

That's where the world has gone wrong concerning the sacred institution of marriage. They have allowed it to be degraded to a civil and social "rite" when it is a sacred and holy "spiritual" rite first. Had there never been a connection in the heart, there would have never been a connection on the ceremonial level. Yet, nowadays, a ceremony is all that we have. Marriage has been debased to a "trial" period to see of you like  it, and if not you can always get it annulled. It has become another one of those nasty mistakes that America and the WORLD has laws to "cover-up" for convenience sake.

Ah, but to weep over the sin and the mistakes we have made, and to be able to FORGIVE and to RELEASE the past is something that is SPIRITUAL and can only be afforded by God the Holy Spirit for those who so desire: and this is available to all who so desire it - not just those who are married.

In an overwhelming expression of grief and sorrow for the lost years, Jacob and Esau embraced in the wilderness and were FOREVER CHANGED!

Many of you today are in that same wilderness of regret and loss of those wasted years, and you would give anything to be reconciled this morning. I want to pray for  you this morning, but I want you to recognize what I implied you said - merely because I've heard it so many times before, that it has become to mean less in my mind when I hear people say it; but what you said was that you would "give anything" to be reconciled this morning. Would you really now? Then give your married relationship; your sibling relationship; your Maternal or Paternal relationship; your friendship... to Jesus and pray with me here this morning complete restoration in Jesus' Name.
 

Let's pray.

Father, we humbly come to you and ask that you would search our hearts: search "my" heart. Lord, I ask that you would purge me o any and all bitterness and unforgiveness that is harbored there. Oh give me the opportunity and the courage today to reach out to those who I have hurt, and those who have hurt me, and to be reconciled Oh Lord. May there be a healing balm O Lord, that would flow from Thy Bosom and wash us and restore us and set us FREE to love again. Oh Father, you have forgiven me, now help me to forgive others become more like you. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.