People often bring into my office the opportunity for reconciliation. Two people, once in love, have grown apart. Misunderstandings piled upon hurt feelings and the walls of defense are only outmatched by their growing arsenal of ways to hurt one another. Yet something brings them in--a glimmer of hope for paradise regained. In all my years of working with all kinds of issues, there is nothing more miraculous than seeing a relationship healed, reconciled, redeemed.
Reconciliation is simply the act of bringing two or more disagreeing people into agreement. It implies that motives and feelings of hostility are abandoned for the purpose of restoring damaged or broken relationships. There are people, like me, who make a profession of it.
The ultimate reconciliation came to the world to reconcile fallen people and a broken world to a holy and blameless God. "Religion" was and is about people trying to reach God through personal effort and human goodness. Jesus brought a new deal. He became righteousness for us because we could not become righteousness (completely blameless before God) on our own. And he did it (pardon Paul's lack of political correctness by mentioning it) through his blood, shed on the cross.
"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Colossians 1:19
So, today is the day to take a deep breath and drink in peace. You do not have to be perfect or even good enough. You are already loved beyond description and, if you have trusted in the righteousness of Christ, you are reconciled with God through his sacrifice.
Part of his ongoing redemption, his reconciliation, is to write his will on the hearts of those he loves so that they respond not out of fear, but out of love. Jesus referred to this kind of relationship redemption when he said the peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called the sons of God.
In making your personal applications, please do not lose sight of what the Apostle Paul is saying about Jesus: there is One who reconciles the vast chasm between God and man. No other philosopher, theologian, intellectual or mystic became the eternal sacrifice for you. Admire who you will--but worship the one and only Jesus.
Reconciliation is simply the act of bringing two or more disagreeing people into agreement. It implies that motives and feelings of hostility are abandoned for the purpose of restoring damaged or broken relationships. There are people, like me, who make a profession of it.
The ultimate reconciliation came to the world to reconcile fallen people and a broken world to a holy and blameless God. "Religion" was and is about people trying to reach God through personal effort and human goodness. Jesus brought a new deal. He became righteousness for us because we could not become righteousness (completely blameless before God) on our own. And he did it (pardon Paul's lack of political correctness by mentioning it) through his blood, shed on the cross.
"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Colossians 1:19
So, today is the day to take a deep breath and drink in peace. You do not have to be perfect or even good enough. You are already loved beyond description and, if you have trusted in the righteousness of Christ, you are reconciled with God through his sacrifice.
Part of his ongoing redemption, his reconciliation, is to write his will on the hearts of those he loves so that they respond not out of fear, but out of love. Jesus referred to this kind of relationship redemption when he said the peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called the sons of God.
In making your personal applications, please do not lose sight of what the Apostle Paul is saying about Jesus: there is One who reconciles the vast chasm between God and man. No other philosopher, theologian, intellectual or mystic became the eternal sacrifice for you. Admire who you will--but worship the one and only Jesus.
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