For several years I ran a convenient store.  One of our phrases for problems was, “clean up on aisle 1.”  It met that someone broke an item and left the mess.  It could also mean that someone broke something and was there waiting for us to clean up so they could help.   The last one did not happen very often.

 

Several of us can remember this phrase, “If you make the mess you clean it up” or “if you break it, you buy it.”  The idea is that you are responsible for your actions and the consequences of your actions.

 

Followers of Jesus, stay.  If they make a mistake, commit a sin, hurt other people, they stay and clean up the situation.  It is done through love, patience, repentance, and humility.  Responsibility is theirs and they embrace it. They are the solution.

 

I know this first hand.  I have committed the sin.  I took full responsibility for it.  It was mine alone to accept.  While many people walked away, I grew in my faith.  Over time, some came back and relationships were restored. Sometimes the consequences are difficult to accept, but if you repent to God and others, God will see you through.  Just ask David.