October 20, 2024

II Corinthians 5.20 (NIV)
We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Sin has broken the friendship between God and man.*

Like a good mediator, Paul pleads for us to be reconciled to God. Our need for reconciliation implies the existence of certain conditions: that there was a former friendship; that there is now enmity on one or both sides; and that God is the initiator of the reconciliation process.*

In human relationships, there is no reconciliation if only one party makes the effort. One person can forgive, be willing to forget and move on, but unless the other person makes the same effort, the relationship will remain broken. God is in “ready mode” in the reconciliation process, just waiting for us to step up to meet him there. It is usually the vanquished who sues for a settlement, not the victor, but God has assumed the inferior position in order to facilitate our reconciliation.

On his side, the job is done. On our part, we must comply with the terms that God offers. Just as God was in Christ when he was reconciling the world, we must be in Christ if we are going to be reconciled to him.*

Reconciliation is never accomplished without us.*