Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Have you ever been so deeply hurt by someone that you thought it impossible to restore the relationship?
We have all experienced a sense of hurt or betrayal by someone in our lives, whether that be a family member, friend, or coworker. Often, animosity grows and a wedge is built between us and the other person. Without reconciliation, our hearts become hardened, and we begin to feel the relationship will never be the same.
Since the fall of humanity, sin has created a chasm between humans and God the Father, making us no longer worthy to enter God’s presence. Creation desperately longed for something—or someone—to restore it back to its original, blameless state. We have tried to reconcile ourselves to God to no avail; it is something that is impossible to do on our own. Despite this, God loved his creation so much that he took it upon himself to restore us.
From the very beginning, God created a perfect plan to save us from our sin and reconcile us to himself. In order to do this, God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to pave the path between us and our Heavenly Father (John 3:16). Christ was the divine bridge that allowed us to walk away from sin and shame and into God’s presence. Because of him, nothing stands in our way.
Colossians 1:19-20
19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
The blood of Jesus Christ covers us and all the sins we have committed, and it reconciles us to the Father.
As children of God, we can now experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. God lovingly made the decision to pay for our debts himself. We no longer must feel defeated or downcast. We can rejoice in the peace that comes from knowing that Jesus Christ overcame sin and death. He has made us a new creation!
Questions:
How can forgiveness lead to reconciliation?
How can you practice reconciliation in your own relationships?
Next Steps:
Read Colossians 1 throughout the week, meditating on how God spoke through Paul. If you are familiar with the chapter in the NLT version, you might consider reading another version, such as the Amplified version, to give additional context.
Through prayer, ask God to lead you and help you reconcile any relationships that have been broken.
To grow your walk with God, check out GrowthTrack at any of the CedarCreek campuses.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to pay the debt created by my sins. You are a gracious and merciful God, and I praise you for your unfailing love. Help me to remember that, through Christ, I am holy and blameless before you. Help me remember to dwell in your peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Colossians 1:23
But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.