And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 1 Corinthians 5:18-19

 

There are few wrongs harder to get past than the violation of trust we call betrayal.

 

A son started working at his father’s small business. One day, he faked a heist to steal everything his father had. The business went bankrupt, and the father discovered his son had been behind the robbery. The father forgave his son, but the son, riddled with guilt, avoided his father. Years later, the son picked up the phone and called his dad, saying, “Dad, I want to make my relationship right with you again.” The father agreed, and they began the journey of reconciliation.

 

Forgiveness is one party’s decision to release the other from resentment and anger over wrongdoing. We can forgive even when there’s no reconciliation. Reconciliation requires both parties to acknowledge the wrong and really work to restore and heal the relationship. Reconciliation is special and rare- it’s not always possible.

 

Jesus offers us forgiveness and reconciliation through His death. The Bible says, “…all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation” (1 Corinthians 5:18-19). Jesus is offering us a restored relationship with God. But it requires us to say “yes.” It requires us to acknowledge our wrongs and receive this gift of God’s forgiveness and grace!

 

After being reconciled to Jesus, we can also invite others into a healed relationship with God. We become part of the story of healing and hope for a broken world.