Reconcile

To reconcile means to restore a friendly relationship between two persons.  Because of our brokenness, we are at odds with each other and with God.  Broken relationships are common. In fact, all our relationships contain elements of brokenness, because we are broken.  Reconciliation requires love and forgiveness.  People are reconciled when in love forgiveness is given and accepted.  It is not easy to love and forgive but with the help of the Holy Spirit we are able.

Reconciliation starts with God.  Out of his great love for us, while we were still enemies and ungodly sinners, Jesus died for us to reconcile us to God (Romans 5:6-11), not counting our sins against us (2 Corinthians 5:18–19).  On the cross, Jesus made peace with God by reconciling us with God (Colossians 1:19-20).  We are forgiven because of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7).  It is all God’s doing.  He wants to restore that broken relationship he has with us.

With that restored relationship, we are blessed, and since we are blessed we are called to be a blessing (Genesis 12:2-3).  Being a new creation, a blessing, means we are part of the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21), where we share that message of reconciliation to the world.  We called to imitate God (Ephesians 5:1-2).  That means showing love and forgiveness to those around us .  Just as we have been forgiven so very much, so we forgive others (Matthew 18:21-35).  In imitating God, we get to love our enemies, do good to those who hate and abuse us, and bless those who curse us (Luke 6:27-28).  We do not repay evil for evil, instead we bless (1 Peter 6:9) because we are called to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

We are different from those of the world.  We are truly countercultural. Today’s culture sees the world in terms of power.  Many times it is expressed in terms of oppression. It divides the world into us versus them by pointing out that they have and we want, or they are in control and we are not. This view is very divisive. Christians on the other hand are in the business of reconciliation. We see the world through the lens of God’s love.  We want to unite all people under Jesus Christ, because God desires for all people to come to know him (1 Timothy 2:3-6).   So let us reach out in love and forgiveness and share that Gospel message of love and reconciliation.