Nougat 27

No longer old, but new we are – today’s Holy Nougat takes us on the journey and destination of reconciliation.

“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.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Many of us are more familiar with verse 17, which speaks to our transformation from old to new; but we are perhaps not as familiar with its implications outlined here in verse 18. At a time when so much around us is not as it ought to be in our worlds, and brokenness dots the landscape of many, our mandate is to be agents of reconciliation.

Yes, it is. For we who’ve found newness of life in Jesus, are helping others have a similar experience. And as others are reconciled to Jesus the process of transforming (reforming) begins anew and is perfected within us. It’s worth noting that there is a sense in which it’s all at the same time. It IS a gift that is ALREADY given for us to share continually with others.

Despite how we may feel, if we have already confirmed our relationship in Christ through Accepting Believing and Confessing (telling others about Him) we are already reconciled. And that’s true, for even in normal human relationships we know that reconciliation is both a journey and a destination. So rather than lose hope when we’re not quite perfected in Jesus, we accept the fait accompli and work on strengthening our relationships with Christ and others. And that’s a daily task.

So what if we were to celebrate this gift daily? We may need to unpack the junk of hurt, bitterness, rejection and perhaps even envy, and replace it with the Love of Jesus Christ. And that’s not always easy, for even healthy relationships require ongoing work. The good news is we don’t have to face it alone. God’s Spirit resides within us and will help us through.

That’s another part of the gift we have in Jesus. And we receive and celebrate as the old person disappears, with all the baggage we bring; making room for our new selves in Jesus. Reconciliation in Christ, we are here!!!!

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May all we seek be found in Christ