I'm Sorry If...

Have you ever been hurt by someone and they gave you that "I'm sorry if I've done {yada, yada, yada}"?

Doesn't that just make you feel more insulted? What they're really saying is, "I'm sorry that you're over-reacting, so I will say I'm sorry to end this conversation, but I really don't acknowledge that I've done anything wrong."

"I'm sorry if..." is not a true apology. It takes no ownership in the hurt inflicted.

IF.

Little word, big meaning.

According to dictionary.com: IF is general. It may be used to indicate suppositions or hypothetical conditions (often involving doubt or uncertainty)

So, you're either sorry, or your not. "If" should never enter the statement. Better you stay silent than pass that off as an apology.

I wonder what goes through God's mind when we bring Him prayers like this. Generalities because we're too lazy to take the time it takes to be soul-searching and specific. I am convicted over the many times I've offered my confessions this way. "Lord, if I've done anything to offend you, please forgive me." Please!

I never saw this before until today when I was irritated by yet one more weak "I'm sorry if" apology. It really got me thinking about why that bothers me so much. And I felt the heart of God saying, "I know how you feel." {OUCH!}

Let's not insult God with non-committals and general repentance. Ask him to search your heart and show you where you're wrong. Don't worry, He will! Then you can present those specific transgressions to the Lord in true repentance. You can really only be sorry for what you own responsibility for. If you don't own it, you haven't truly confessed it, and it will come back to bite you later.

1 John 1:9 says: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Interestingly, "confess" means quite the opposite of "if": to own or admit as true. 

See the difference?