Do You Desire Reconciliation?
“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10 NIV)
Thinking back on my journey toward Christ, I remember the feeling of searching but not being able to quite grasp what it was I was looking for. Was it love? Joy? Freedom?
Now I know it was all those things, but first had to come reconciliation—the restoration of friendly relations between me and God. I admitted that I had done wrong—sinned—and that this wrongdoing stemmed from a desire to be my own god and not recognizing the one true God.
This confession produced a glorious freedom in my heart. I was able to move forward, knowing that the God of the universe cares for me, and that even when I fall down he will continue to love me. No matter what I do from here on out, heaven awaits me because I believe in the Son of God, who died on the cross to take away my sin and was resurrected to show us his power over sin and death.
Yet somewhere in that moving forward, I began taking Jesus and his sacrifice for me for granted. I forgot his gift to me, and I began living as though I could take care of myself. It wasn’t a blatant disregard for Jesus but a subtle movement into that space until I didn’t realize how long it had been since I’d confessed my shortfalls.
I need reminders of my need for God so I can remember what Jesus’s death on the cross meant for me.
Do you have people or circumstances you know God gave you to keep you humble? To remind you how much you need him? To keep in mind your imperfections and failings? I bring up this idea not to make you feel bad. We all have times we fall short and don’t do relationships well. We say the wrong things and do the wrong things, both on purpose and accidentally. Life brings challenges, and we must face them with the grace and strength of our God. I believe God allows into our lives what will make us fall on our knees back to him.
When I look around me, I see all the people God uses to draw me back to him and Jesus. Number one are my kids. I greatly want them to know Jesus. I constantly need to take stock of my relationship with Jesus and my willingness to show my weaknesses, because these things will show them a beginning to their own journey of getting to know our great God. I am desperate to be reconciled to God so my kids can see the freedom I experience in that relationship and understand that connection with God is possible through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
The Lord also uses the life and circumstances of our military family to keep me grounded in him. We have been through many big changes, like moving and having babies, and we have watched the Lord provide for us each time. We have had to sit back and trust him to deliver what we needed, and he did, at just the right time.
I have watched the Lord use these situations and people, among many others, to draw me back to him and keep me reconciled to him. Although life won’t always feel like it’s going my way, I know the Lord can draw me back to him as I watch him work out the details. I want to continue the constant renewal of my friendship with and trust in God each day so I can watch him work out all things for good and be mindful of the love Jesus showed me on the cross.
Lord, help those not already reconciled to you see that separation and the love, joy, and freedom life can hold once they know you. Give us who already have relationship with you the strength and patience to watch you work out the details and continually draw us back to you through whatever is on our path. Allow our hearts to be open to the growth that happens through challenges. Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 NIV)
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. (2 Corinthians 5:18–19 NIV)
Reach for More
Think about the people and circumstances in your life. Try to see how God might be using them to draw you back to or closer to him, or to remind you of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. When we can live in light of that sacrifice, we can let go of some or all of our worry and strife. We can sit in the love of God and remember that no matter what, he is there, weaving our story into something beautiful that will glorify him. You might have to give those people and circumstances over to God again and again, but keep doing it. Look for his hand in the details. Watch for your answer to prayer!
enjoys a crazy, beautiful life with her military husband and four sons. A baby and toddler interrupt her homeschool days in the best ways, and she is always attempting to live with mindfulness of each moment. She hopes to look at the world and each person in it in light of our amazing Creator and therefore, to see each moment presented as an opportunity to love and serve him more. Carla relishes time to ponder God’s Word and have quiet moments with him and her coffee. She loves doing life with other mamas and encouraging them to simply be who God has made them to be.
Photograph © Wang Xi, used with permission
