Reconciliation is a Beautiful Thing
Have you ever been totally upset or mad at someone and later discover that they’re a pretty good person and that you really like them Reconciliation is a beautiful thing. The Apostle Paul pointed followers of Jesus toward reconciliation when he wrote, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (I Peter 4:8)
James Banks talks about Edwin Stanton and President Abraham Lincoln. When Edwin first met Abraham Lincoln, he snubbed him as a “long-armed creature.” Lincoln appreciated Stanton’s abilities and chose to forgive him, eventually appointing Stanton to a vital cabinet position during the Civil War. Stanton later grew to love Lincoln as a friend. It was Stanton who sat by Lincoln’s bed throughout the night after the President was shot at Ford’s Theater and whispered through tears on his passing, “Now he belongs to the ages.”
The deep love Jesus demonstrated through His death on the cross frees us from the debt of our sins and opens the way for our reconciliation with God. (I Colossians 1:19 -20) Jesusl who was sinless, died for our sins, and it’s because of this that we can forgive others. God gives us the strength to let go of the past and walk forward with Him into beautiful new places of grace. Jesus’ forgiveness of others empowers you and me to forgive others as we realize we can’t forgive in our own strength and ask Christ for help.
Romans 5:8: “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
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