Be Reconciled
Be Reconciled
Have you ever had an unpleasant conversation with someone that you left hoping it would be the last conversation you’d ever have with them? In our culture of canceling people when they disagree with us, or when we don't like their point of view, we can treat relationships like disposable cups and be willing to throw them away. But what does the Bible say about ending relationships whenever we don’t like what the other person has to say? Hebrews 12:14-15 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
That may be easy for the writer of Hebrews to say, but in our increasingly divisive world, how do we begin the process of reconciliation after an unpleasant interaction? What steps should we take? James 5:16 suggests, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” Paul says in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
The concept of reconciliation, according to Paul, is outlined clearly in 2 Corinthians 5:16a,17b-19, which says, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view… The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
Let us Walk in His Way.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for modeling the importance of restoring broken relationships through the process of reconciliation. It may be a one-sided action for many of us, but even if the other person chooses not to agree to restore the relationship, help us remain faithful in following Your biblical guidelines, so our obedience pleases You. Give us the courage and grace to do these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
by Corinne “Kinney” deHamel
Author of “Walk in His Way” for
Carry the Light Ministries
