RECONCILIATION

RECONCILIATION
REBOOT: Creating a New Normal
October 25, 2020

Our English word “reconcile” comes from the Latin, reconciliare, which means “to make good again” or “to repair.” A quick online search of the word “reconcile” gives us a few different definitions that help us more fully grasp its meaning…
… to restore to friendship or harmony
… to settle or resolve an issue
… to make consistent, or
… to submit to or accept something unpleasant
 
The Bible is filled with reconciliation stories…examples that help us understand what it looks like when reconciliation takes place…Jacob & Esau, Joseph and his brothers, the prodigal son, and the ultimate story -- of Jesus, the One who reconciles us to God.
 
We’re nearing the end of our REBOOT series; and this week we’re looking at what God’s Word has to say about the topic of reconciliation. We hear that word thrown around a lot these days; but, like toilet paper and Clorox wipes, it seems to be in short supply! Our world is in desperate need of some restored harmony and resolved issues. As followers of Jesus, (which means we actually follow, not just believe) what does love require of us when it comes to reconciliation?
 
In 2 Corinthians 5, the Apostle Paul writes, “… God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” Reconciliation is not just a task to be undertaken, an agenda to pursue, or an effort to be made—it is our calling to be lived out.