Doing The Work of Reconciliation

Warning:  What we speak about today is probably the biggest challenge any of us face.

To be reconciled with someone who has wronged us is difficult.  It's hard to get beyond our hurt and find the compassion we need to forgive and then find a way forward with them.  God is more than able to help us do this.

Don’t be angry with each other but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

We are all flawed individuals.  When we make amends for our mistakes, our desire is that others will forgive us and that we can be reconciled with them.  We long for them to see the good things in us despite our imperfections, and to find a way to move forward in our relationship. 

We must make a similar effort on behalf of others and offer acceptance and compassion to those we need to forgive.

Try to live in peace with everyone. And try to keep your lives free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord. 

Hebrews 12:14

Forgiveness is the choice of a moment, but reconciliation is a journey.  We must give others time to see how genuine and consistent our changes are and allow them to rebuild their trust in us.

Similarly, we need to learn healthy boundaries with others while keeping our hearts open to whatever time they need to change, so the relationships we build are done on a solid foundation. 

We need to take responsibility for our actions and, where appropriate, leave another’s responsibility with them. 

We make amends where we can and learn to lovingly let go of those folks who are not willing or able to build healthy relationship with us.

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. 

2 Corinthians 5:19

Thank you Jesus, for providing a way of peace and reconciliation for us and putting Your Holy Spirit in our hearts, so we could have all we need to live reconciled to You and to others.

We hear your instruction to carry this message of reconciliation to others as a sign of Your heart for all of us.  Give us grace to forgive those who have injured us and let us down.  Help us to want to and to pursue reconciliation with anyone with whom we are currently estranged. Amen