RECONCILIATION
Psalms 80:19 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Wouldn’t it be nice to never have to be restored in a relationship? By this I mean that we would never mess up and have a broken relationship to begin with. The sad thing everyone does at sometime in their life. It may not be their fault. Sometimes it is another person that says something or does something that breaks up a relationship. And sometimes restoring that relationship as easy as it could be isn’t for a long time or never. The reason for this is for restoration it takes both parties in that relationship. With God, he is always willing to have restoration. The problem is with us. It always is! God will warn us of the up coming problem, convict us it when we do wrong and then reach out to encourage us to seek forgiveness and return to him. Our problem is that we fall short on all or some of these areas. To not do any one of them will stop the reconciliation. If we don’t take God’s warning serious, we will sin and our relationship with God will be broken at least temporarily. If we refuse to ask forgiveness, we will stay in an attitude of rebellion and resentment towards God. What could easily be taken care of by asking God to forgive us, sometimes we turn the table around and blame God. Instead of broken and contrite heart, we allow our heart to be hardened towards God.
For me one of the saddest examples of this is with the apostle Peter. We see it in Luke 22:31-34 and 54-62, and then later in John 21:15-23. The apostle Peter was one of the inter three that Jesus related to the most. Often Jesus would take Peter, James and John and go off by themselves. But it would be Peter that would experience the greatest need for restoration with Jesus.
The night before Jesus’ crucifixion in the upper room Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him as wheat. Then Jesus added that he had prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail, and then he when he turns back he needs to strengthen his brothers meaning the other apostles. Then came the news that Peter found so hard to believe and this was when Jesus told him that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster would crow. Sad to say Peter did exactly as Jesus warned him. And even though Peter wept bitterly, it did not change the situation. Peter had just experienced a broken relationship with Jesus, and there seemed no way he could reconcile it. Jesus would be taken and crucified on Calvary’s cross. But as Jesus does, he makes a way when we can not. Following his resurrection, Jesus met with Peter by the Sea of Galilee. It was there that Jesus confronted Peter with the question, “Peter, do you love me?” Three times Jesus asked Peter this just as Peter had denied him three times. This time Peter spoke up for Jesus telling him that he love him. Reconciliation had come to Peter and Jesus.
Sometimes we say or do things like Peter and wonder if Jesus could ever forgive us again. What we need to remember is that Jesus is more eager to forgive us and become reconciled once again than we are even willing to seek that forgiveness and reconciliation. Don’t let Satan try to make you think that once you have failed Jesus there is no reconciliation and forgiveness for you. The only sin Jesus will not forgive us of is the one we refuse to ask forgiveness for. Remember Jesus loves you, so much he extended his arms out on Calvary’s cross. He wants you with him now and forever.
Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus that you are so willing to forgive us when we fail you. Please help us to never deny you, or sin against you. But if we do please help us to quickly seek forgiveness and become reconciled to you once again. We love you Jesus and ask this in your holy name.
