Reconciliation Grace

For if while we were enemies we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son,
much more, now that we are reconciled,
shall we be saved by his life. More than
that, we also rejoice in God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have
now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:10-11 ESV

Life is filled with spiritual battles. Until a person receives God’s gift of grace, she remains at odds with God—an enemy of God. But immediately upon the acceptance of God’s gift of salvation, everything is forgiven—the past wiped clean and the future secured. (Romans 8:1)

Reconciliation brings harmony, peace, and acceptance. The reconciliation of man to God cost the life of God’s only begotten Son. Jesus, the greatest sacrifice of all time, paid the ultimate price so that man could be reconciled to God—the creation could return to the Creator.

Our world is in great need of reconciliation—most importantly man to God but also important man to man and woman to woman. I often wonder how much more effective our churches would be if we, God’s children, would refuse to get our feelings hurt. How many have walked out the doors of the church and never returned because they perceived an unkind word or considered their talents wasted? I wonder how many times God shakes His head over one of His children that He desires to bless but cannot because they refuse to be reconciled to another of His children.

Our world needs Jesus! But how can we walk into a lost world and claim to be spreading the news of God’s grace if we are unwilling to extend grace to the saved as well as the unsaved? How can we take the message of grace outside the church walls if we refuse to display God’s grace inside the church walls and from church to church?

Reconciliation grace is available to every child of God. Sometimes personalities clash. Sometimes cultures clash. Sometimes someone is simply having a bad day.

I propose that today we make satan one very unhappy dude! Determine to extend grace. Determine to love one another as Christ loves you. Determine to be a blessing and be blessed by walking in God’s reconciliation grace.

©JP 2013