Tag Archives: reconciliation

July 22
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“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'”  (Acts 10:34-35, NIV)

As Peter was before his vision (please see Acts 10:9ff), we prefer people we like; and we prefer people like us.  This is our nature apart from God, and it is the starting point of racism, sexism, nationalism, and all other preferences based on outward appearances and other superficial traits.

When we begin to see people as God sees people, we will be humbled by how often our personal preferences are tied to the most superficial human qualities.  We will also be amazed at how often the persons accepted by God are 180-degrees out from us in physical appearance, cultural background, native language, and national origin.

God commands us to be like Him: Accepting of every person (nationality, race, culture, gender) “who fears Him and does what is right.”  – Luther

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July 20
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“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:6-8, NIV)

God’s love for all of us is unconditional — particularly those who have no use for God.

The noted German pastor, Martin Niemoller (1892-1984) said: “It took me a long time to learn that God is not the enemy of my enemies.  He is not even the enemy of His enemies.”  The enemies of Niemoller’s reference were the Nazis.  While he had good reason to hate Hitler and his ilk, Niemoller knew that for Christ’s sake, he had no excuse.

We must take to heart that if God chooses reconciliation with His enemies, we, too, must choose reconciliation with both our enemies, and the enemies of God.

Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians is a pointed reminder of God’s love for all persons and of our obligation to follow our heavenly Father’s example.  – Luther

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June 15
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“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  (John 3:17, NIV)

It is worth remembering that Jesus’ primary purpose in coming into the world was to reconcile the world to God.  As such, this is also our primary purpose as disciples of Jesus.

Amid all of the dysfunction and evil we see in the world, we are tempted first to pronounce judgment and then await divine retribution.  However, this is not God’s way.  He sent His only begotten Son into the world “to save the world through Him.”

Paul describes us this way: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NIV)

In all that we do, seek the reconciliation of others, both to oneself and to God, because that is our purpose.  – Luther

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