Romans 5:11
More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
All of us have been in a relationship that breaks down–one person hurts another, misunderstandings happen, distance grows, and often bitterness grows. Sometimes these relationships feel un-repairable. Sometimes they are. The only hope is for there to be reconciliation, both sides admitting their part and their fault, apologizing, asking forgiveness, and offering forgiveness so there is a starting point for restoration. It is often and agonizing, humbling, and lengthy process that might never feel complete.
But consider our relationship with God. It too was broken down and unrepairable, at least by us. It too needed reconciliation, except that all the fault lay only on our side because of our sin. And yet, our fault was so great that we could not take steps to make things right. We could not reconcile things with God. No, we needed to receive reconciliation from him as a gift. When God sent Jesus, it was not a meeting in the middle. He went the whole way to save, to make things right, to reconcile.
In every human relationship reconciliation is a two way street, demanding something of both parties. In our relationship with God, he bore the whole cost and gave reconciliation to us so that we could be called his own.
I originally wrote this post for my church, Immanuel Nashville, in our Daily Pulse email. If you want encouragement from God’s word delivered Monday thru Friday to your inbox, I encourage you to subscribe.