I heard a brilliant sermon on reconciliation recently and it got me thinking about how much we need this today, in a world full of strife, contention and unforgiveness. Disagreements and breakdown in relationships range from family infightings to global wars. One would have thought that after emerging from a devastating pandemic, people would want nothing more than peace to reign in our world today. It would appear however, that the opposite is the case, because sadly we live in a sinful and often self-centred world.
But the ministry of Jesus is one of peace and reconciliation. Isaiah 59:1-2 says: ‘Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.’ This passage makes it clear that our sins necessitate a strong need for reconciliation with God.
Even before the first sin in the garden of Eden, God made a way of reconciliation for us all. Ephesians 1:4 says: ‘For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love.’ This demonstrates that God in His mercy and loving kindness provided a ‘bridge’ for mankind to be reconciled to Him.
It has been said that relationships thrive not because the guilty are punished, but because the innocent are merciful. Let us begin at an individual level to be champions of reconciliation, pouring unto others the love, forgiveness, and mercy that our Lord Jesus so mercifully poured on us all before the foundation of world.