To Encourage You

Colossians 1:22-23 “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.”

Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

One of the wonders of the reconciling work of God with men is that God did all the reconciling. Man had no role whatsoever.  It was God who took the initiative to reach out to sinners who were hostile to Him, by sending Jesus to pay the price for their sin.  All men had to do as a consequence of this supreme act of love was to say “Yes” to Him and receive that reconciling work that was done on their behalf.  And when a person does this, when he or she realizes the awesomeness of what was done on their behalf, it changes them.  Indeed, he or she becomes a “new creature” and “all things become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Perhaps, this becomes most evident in that person’s attitude and actions towards others who have wronged them.   Whereas the natural response to an attack on us is to “get them back” and exact revenge, the supernatural godly response is to “if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably” with everyone. 

Just like Jesus’ great act of love made reconciliation possible for everyone, it is only as a person accepts this forgiveness that reconciliation actually happens.  Jesus, as much as it depended on Him, has done absolutely all that is necessary.  So, it is to be with us, His followers.  In every relationship, we are to remove any barriers that there may be from our end to the reconciliation of that relationship.  If that other person still spurns us, there is really nothing else we can do. Obedience to the command of Romans 12:8 above is to do what we can so that “if possible, so far as it depends on you” the reasons for any hostility have been removed. 

So, how are you doing in this area?  Do you have broken relationships that remain broken in part because you’ve not done all you can do from your end to heal them?  Or are you one who “bad-mouths” the other person every chance you get, and refuses to speak to them?  May God help us to demonstrate the love of Christ in our relationships with others, just as He did in that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).