Over the years, there have been times when I knew things weren’t right between me and someone else. I can’t live like that, so I have gone each time to find out what I did that offended a brother or sister in Christ. The Bible says to “speak the truth in love.” There is nothing that compares with a harmonious relationship between you and the other person being restored.
Paul, in Colossians 1:19-22 NLT wrote:
“For God, in all His fullness, was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him, God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth, through Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were once His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now, He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.”
WOW! Think of all that!
Have you welcomed Christ into your life? Then, through Him, you have been reconciled to the Father. Please note that God never has to be reconciled to us. He is holy. There is no imperfection in Him. When sin enters our lives, our fellowship with God is interfered with. In 1 John 1:8-9 we read, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sis and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
It is so wonderful to be in a right relationship with our God. Charles Stanley wrote, “God has gone to great lengths to provide the potential for a lasting relationship with us. He initiated and paid for the entire process. Love for us motivated Him to come up with a plan. And that same love moved Him to sacrifice His Son along the way.”
According to the Bible, reconciliation is the process of restoring a relationship between two parties after a conflict. In Ephesians 4:31-32, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Folks, it doesn’t get any more plain than that.
I read a report recently that said when we don’t forgive others, it can seriously impact our overall health. The article said it can affect your heart rate, blood pressure, and immune response. These in turn can bring depression, heart disease, and diabetes. When you forgive you feel better about yourself. You are also pleasing our Heavenly Father who has forgiven us.
When we forgive another person, we are displaying God’s love for that person. Jesus, in John 13:35, said “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
The book of Philemon is very short, but it is a wonderful example of the way forgiveness and reconciliation work. The Apostle Paul is interceding with Philemon for Onesimus, a runaway slave. In verses 10-12, we read “I appeal to you to show kindness to my child Onesimus, I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with him, comes my own heart.”
When Onesimus ran away, he came in contact with Paul who introduced him to Jesus. He is a changed man. So Paul says to Philemon, in verses 15-16, “It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.”
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Paul continues in verses 17-18, “So, if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.”
· Onesimus was a runaway slave.
· Now he is a brother in Christ.
· Welcome him as you would welcome me.
· If he owes you anything charge it to my account.
Forgiveness and reconciliation change our worth. We become more valuable to God to others and to ourselves. Chuck Swindoll’s website, ‘Insight for Living’ recently published a wonderful little booklet, “Finding Healing through Forgiveness.” You will find it very helpful whether you are the offended or the offender. Be sure to begin this new Year with a clean slate with God and others.
From one who is forgiven,
Pastor Leonard
