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Kirk Martin

Reconciliation

If you have lived in the world for any length of time, you have experienced an offense or possibly the estrangement of a “once-close” relationship. While Jesus told us that offenses are bound to happen (see Luke 17:1), I believe the heart of God is for us to seek reconciliation where possible, and not go through life leaving behind one broken relationship after another.

Rom 5:8–10 — What Can We Learn From This Verse?

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
  1. For reconciliation to take place love must be the motivation…This scripture states that, “GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THIS…” In other words — God’s taking action to reconcile with man is a demonstration of His love. I will never reconcile offended relationships if the love of God is not my motivation.
  2. For reconciliation to take place I must take initiative…This scripture states “WHILE WE WERE SINNERS”. In other words— he didn’t wait for something to change in us; …while we were still sinners, while we were still his enemy; while we were still offending him…He died for us. I must be willing to take initiative and go to the other person.
  3. Reconciliation is costly — He died for us….The Bible never says that reconciliation is easy, but it does seem to indicate that it is worth the price we have to pay; sometimes in humility, sometimes in being willing to be defrauded, sometimes in simple being willing to forgive.

God actually teaches us to love each other, even our enemies

1 Thes 4:9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
Luke 6:35–36 “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

So What Can I Do?

You are actually well on your way to reconciling relationships. Your heart is already filled with the love of God (Rom 5:5) and He is already working in you so that you desire and actually follow through to fulfill his good purpose (Phil 2:13). So, simply surrender to Him in this area and trust His word is the truth that will guide you. Ask Him for practical wisdom as to how you should proceed, then begin to take initiative under His guidance that will lead toward reconciliation of those broken relationships. As you do, you will bring glory to His amazing ministry of reconciliation as it works through you.