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Reconciliation is the theme for our reflection. It is the process of mending a broken relationship between two or more people or groups. Reconciliation is the restoration of the broken relationship or separation between God and humanity as a result of humanity’s disobedience. Reconciliation can also be defined as God’s way of reaching out to the lost and perishing through Christ Jesus. We shall consider the following three facts in our reflection:
1. God is the source of reconciliation and without Jesus, there is no reconciliation.
2. Repentant sinners are the beneficiaries of God’s gift of reconciliation
3. Those who are saved are the agents or ambassadors of reconciliation.

Firstly, God is the source of reconciliation and without Jesus, there is no reconciliation, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). To prove that God is the source of our reconciliation and without Jesus’ there is no reconciliation, Jesus revealed to us that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16) God first took the initiative to reconcile sinful humanity and a broken world onto Himself and He made Jesus the only way to be reconciled to Him. Jesus reaffirms His indispensable role in our reconciliation to God when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6). God first loved and reconciled us to himself It is, for this reason. Paul wrote that “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:8-11). In the parable of the lost sheep, we recall that it is the shepherd who first takes the initiative to go looking for the lost sheep. “In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:14) Reconciliation means that God takes the initiative to save us, for He says “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; (Ezekiel 33:11). God is indeed the source of our reconciliation to with HIm.

Secondly, repentant sinners are the beneficiaries of God’s gift of reconciliation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come… For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17,21). Again, Jesus assures us that sinners are the beneficiaries or focus of God’s gift of reconciliation when he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17). It is refreshing to know that we are the ultimate beneficiaries of God’s reconciliation project, hence, we can say with Paul that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (1 Timothy 1:15). Again, we are the beneficiaries of God’s gift of reconciliation in that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) God is still in the reconciliation business of “reconciling the world (sinners) to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, (2 Corinthians 5:19). It is never too late to be reconciled to God, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Hebrews 3:15)

Thirdly, after we have become the beneficiaries of God’s reconciliation, He makes us His agents or ambassadors of reconciliation, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20). Jesus made us agents or ambassadors of God’s reconciliation when Commissioned us saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) We must always remember that we represent Jesus anywhere we find ourselves as His agents or ambassadors to spread the message of reconciliation which is the Good News or the Gospel. We have been instructed to ” preach the word; be ready in season and out of season…” (2 Timothy 4:2). Beloved in the Lord, having become beneficiaries of God’s gift of reconciliation and ambassadors or agents of His reconciliation, how often do we embark on evangelism as individuals and as a church. Shall we appear empty-handed before God without giving any account of a single lost but found soul? There are many who are lost and perishing, as the agents or ambassadors of reconciliation, we must preach the Gospel to lead them to salvation. Let us start from our neighbourhoods, bus stops, markets, playgrounds and wherever we find ourselves. We have no excuse, we have all the essential resources at our disposal. God has given us time, life, wealth and the body with good health to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15).

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Reconciliation” We have discovered that God is the source of reconciliation and without Jesus, there is no reconciliation, Repentant Sinners are the beneficiaries of God’s gift of reconciliation, last but not least, those who are saved are the agents or ambassadors of God’s reconciliation.

PRAYER
1. Dear friend, sin separates us from God, It is for this reason that we are being invited to accept God’s gracious gift of reconciliation and also become His agents or ambassadors of His reconciliations. Let us pray to be transformed and totally reconciled to God.
2. Let us pray for the zeal or passion to share or preach the message of reconciliation (the Gospel) wherever we find ourselves.
3. Let us pray for God’s protection and victory even as we go out there as agents or ambassadors of God’s reconciliation.

Almighty God, thank you for reconciling us into Your loving arms through our Lord Jesus Christ, may the Holy Spirit empower us to be faithful ambassadors of reconciliation in our broken world. Amen.