Reconciliation
Yesterday we celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In his famous
“I have a dream” speech Dr. King spoke to reconciliation between blacks and whites, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics. Reconciliation produces harmony and peace.
Legislation cannot produce reconciliation only forgiveness can. We see this in the parable Jesus gave regarding a young man and his father in Luke 15: 11-32. The father had two sons and the younger son decided he would leave his father’s house. He asked his father for his inheritance. His father gave him his inheritance and he left home. No doubt, he left happy and had many dreams floating around in his head. His father was not happy. His son had left without his approval. He had transgressed his father’s will and intent.
The day came when the son met on hard times and had absolutely nothing in his possession. He had no food, no clothing, and no money. He decided to return home to his father, and ask for his forgiveness. Forgiveness is the gateway to reconciliation.
His father was waiting for him when he reached home. His father had already forgiven him, and was waiting on him to return seeking forgiveness. Another example of reconciliation comes from God. Who sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth in the form of a human being.
Here Jesus lived among us from a fetus to a grown man. He had all the experiences of a human being only without sin. He is holy. Jesus is God. Can you imagine Jesus as a child on a side street playing ball? If not with a rubber ball, he would have some other kind of object. Children do improvise.
Can you imagine Jesus getting into misunderstandings with other children. He did with his parents. No bad behavior, no cheating, or lying, or teasing – behaviors all children act out. He might have been thought of by some of his peers as a bit boring. Life on earth, quite different from heaven He would think. Jesus lived doing His Father’s Will.
When He was twelve years old, He told his mother and step father, “I must be about my Father’s business”.Luke 2:49 (If we want to live a focused life, the Lord Jesus is our great example.) Reconciliation was on His mind. He bore our sins on Calvary’s cross and He died the sinner’s death. God raised Him from the dead. He is now at God’s right hand interceding on our behalf.
In the parable of the prodigal son, the son – the transgressor - came seeking his father’s forgiveness. In our case, we are the transgressors and God came to earth to secure our forgiveness. 2 Corinthians 5:19 If you are restless today, if your life is not moving in the direction you expected, are you living in God’s will?
Are you reconciled to God – your Creator? Is He your Savior? Draw near to God and He – in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ - will draw near to you. God has made the first move. Now it’s your turn. Reconciliation brings peace.
Legislation cannot produce reconciliation only forgiveness can. We see this in the parable Jesus gave regarding a young man and his father in Luke 15: 11-32. The father had two sons and the younger son decided he would leave his father’s house. He asked his father for his inheritance. His father gave him his inheritance and he left home. No doubt, he left happy and had many dreams floating around in his head. His father was not happy. His son had left without his approval. He had transgressed his father’s will and intent.
The day came when the son met on hard times and had absolutely nothing in his possession. He had no food, no clothing, and no money. He decided to return home to his father, and ask for his forgiveness. Forgiveness is the gateway to reconciliation.
His father was waiting for him when he reached home. His father had already forgiven him, and was waiting on him to return seeking forgiveness. Another example of reconciliation comes from God. Who sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth in the form of a human being.
Here Jesus lived among us from a fetus to a grown man. He had all the experiences of a human being only without sin. He is holy. Jesus is God. Can you imagine Jesus as a child on a side street playing ball? If not with a rubber ball, he would have some other kind of object. Children do improvise.
Can you imagine Jesus getting into misunderstandings with other children. He did with his parents. No bad behavior, no cheating, or lying, or teasing – behaviors all children act out. He might have been thought of by some of his peers as a bit boring. Life on earth, quite different from heaven He would think. Jesus lived doing His Father’s Will.
When He was twelve years old, He told his mother and step father, “I must be about my Father’s business”.Luke 2:49 (If we want to live a focused life, the Lord Jesus is our great example.) Reconciliation was on His mind. He bore our sins on Calvary’s cross and He died the sinner’s death. God raised Him from the dead. He is now at God’s right hand interceding on our behalf.
In the parable of the prodigal son, the son – the transgressor - came seeking his father’s forgiveness. In our case, we are the transgressors and God came to earth to secure our forgiveness. 2 Corinthians 5:19 If you are restless today, if your life is not moving in the direction you expected, are you living in God’s will?
Are you reconciled to God – your Creator? Is He your Savior? Draw near to God and He – in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ - will draw near to you. God has made the first move. Now it’s your turn. Reconciliation brings peace.
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