Good Morning All!!
2 Corinthians 5:18; “All this is from
God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation”
It was a sad and painful
discussion. The young couple had really
come to loggerheads. They had only been
married a couple of years earlier but now were barely civil to each other. He wasn’t sure when it started; she said he
knew exactly what was going on and they talked at, over, around, about and
everything but actually to each other.
The issue at the start was about where they were going for some holiday,
his or hers but it had mushroomed beyond that.
So the discussion turned to forgiveness.
Forgiveness is essential in
reconciliation. If you are going to
heal, you have to apply the needed balm and that balm is forgiveness in a
relationship. They both dug in a little
as the discussion starting hitting close to home. “So who goes first?” “Shouldn’t the person who was wrong go first?” (Funny how we sound like second graders
sometimes isn’t?) I think they had
wished that by posing a question fit for Solomon they would avoid the guilt of
thinking they were more wrong or less right than their spouse. They received an answer which actually would
have pleased Solomon. “The one to go
first is the one who loves the most and cares the deepest.”
The couple left and eventually reconciled
but it still took some time. Yet that is
always the advice offered when there is an estrangement in a relationship. Whether it is siblings, friends or spouses,
this is the advice to start the healing.
We see this in how God dealt with us.
Throughout Scriptures, we see where God is constantly coming to us to
heal the rupture that has occurred in our relationship. Our sin drove us from God and yet it is God
who continually makes the first move in healing us. He comes to us, He calls us, He redeems us,
He reconciles us back to him. All this
began and often occurs when we are still enemies with Him. God’s reconciliation with us begins with God
because God first loves us. God’s love
and mercy reaches to us and returns us to his loving arms and his gracious
love.
So if you are in a situation where there
is a strain or rift in a relationship; take the first step. Step out in love in an attempt to bring about
healing, reconciliation and hope. Jesus
stepped out for you and was whipped, beaten and crucified so that you would
know that God loved you and that he paid your debt of sin so that you would be
reconciled back to him. He paid so you
can stay and his love for you lets you return even when you stray again and
again. This is what love means. It is an intentional action, we choose to
love and God chose us first; that is what we know as true love.
Gracious
God and Father, there are so many broken hearts and relationships in this
world. We see and experience pain in
each one. Father, send your Spirit of
comfort and hope to all your children who are hurting. Move them to reach out in love and
forgiveness that they may come together as family and friends but especially as
redeemed members of your holy body. Heal
the broken Lord. This we ask in the
precious name of Jesus, our Risen Savior, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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