Ministry of Reconciliation...for me!
Many years ago, I was hiking on Morrow Mountain with Mikey and Ruthie. Mikey was about 12 at the time. I walk pretty fast and the kids were ambling along goofing off and playing with each other. I was listening to them talk but eventually walked out of sight. I thought it would be fun to hide off the trail, let them pass me, and then follow them. I did this.
They walked ahead happily talking until we got to a stretch where they could see a fair distance ahead. They realized they couldn't see me any longer. Mikey began to sob. I sprinted ahead to catch up to them and said, "Buddy, what's wrong?" I thought he was hurt. Through gasping sobs he cried, "I thought...you had...left us...like you did...when you deployed!"
"Son, why would I just leave you? I would never just abandon you!"
"But...I'm so bad...all the time...and I thought...you would just leave!"...and then he collapsed into my arms, heaving with tears.
I just held him and assured him that, yes, he did the wrong things sometimes; but it didn;t change my love for him. I told him I would NEVER abandon him.
I never held my children's wrongdoing against them. I certainly disciplined them when necessary, but I was careful to remind them how much I loved them. Mikey knew that. He was reconciled to me...
...but he wasn;t reconciled to himself. He couldn't accept the truth of my unconditional acceptance.
We are called to the ministry of reconciliation to the world. We are called to bring Christ to them, and them to Christ. But reconciliation begins with us!
Many of us walk around like Mikey did, knowing the truth of reconciliation, but not believeing it. Even though we are set free from our sin and restored and sons and daughters of Yahweh, we live as if we are still under condemnation. We feel a need to punish ourselves. We live as slaves when we are truly family.
I cannot minister reconciliation to others if I do not first live it in my own life. If I cannot experience the fullness of reconciliation, then others will look at me and say, "Why should I believe you? You don't believe it yourself!"
Believe it. Know it. FEEL it. You are one with Christ, joint heirs of the kingdom, and freed from your sinful nature. KNOW it, and share it!
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
Battle Belongs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=johgSkNj3-A&list=RDjohgSkNj3-A&start_radio=1
Jesus Paid It All
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rWXUqF_BFo&list=RD0rWXUqF_BFo&start_radio=1
Just Because
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2_ahFBfZLM&list=RDm2_ahFBfZLM&start_radio=1
Tremble
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzZZb6RbLJs&list=RDSzZZb6RbLJs&start_radio=1