Reconciliation And The Awesome Power Of ONE
“ONE.”
It’s a beautiful word. Especially when it is really speaking of “two.”
Only God can make “two” separate, independent, people into “one.” It’s a miracle when it happens.
God is “one.” Three persons, one essence. The miracle of the Trinity.
A husband and wife are “one.” One flesh. Two persons who are to walk as “one.”
This week in our journey of prayer we will pray all week for reconciliation and unity. That in all of our differences and diversity we will once again become “one nation.”
Here are a few secrets to that:
“I hurt when you hurt.”
A body is “one.” You cannot feel pain in one part of your body and the rest of the body not know about it.
In the body of Christ, it must be the same. “If one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Cor. 12: 26).
If your friend, your neighbor, your spouse, your brother in Christ tells you they are suffering, pay attention. Don’t deny it. The pain is real. Seek to heal it so their life can go back to normal.
All healing begins with dealing honestly with symptoms.
“Forgive me where I contribute toward your pain.”
If I step on your toe (even unknowingly), your reaction should tell me something. Somewhere, something I am doing may be the source of that pain. I don’t mean to, but I may be causing it.
Don’t think that your wife or husband, your friend, or your brother in Christ is making up their pain. It’s real. Search your heart. Be sure you are not the source or any type of contributor to that pain.
“Jesus is our Example in reconciliation”
No one has ever suffered pain like Christ. Hanging from his hands and feet and covered in His own blood, He could only gasp, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
I may be frustrated with your deluded attacks against me. I may be embarrassed by your insensitivity toward me. I may be isolated by your shameful treatment of me.
“Father, forgive them.” Can I enter into the amazing love of Christ for His enemies? Can I even pray for them and trust that Heaven will reveal and reward my suffering?
Start to pray right now for your persecutors, your tormentors. Ask God to forgive them and show them the incredible pain they are inflicting upon you. That is a love deeper than human: it’s “agape love.”
This week is a week of entering into the suffering of our “others.” Don’t deny it or disown it. Seek to understand it. Seek to “get off their toe” if you are even unknowingly standing on it.
Then, start praying for reconciliation: That Christians and churches would come together. That spouse and siblings would come together. That citizens and neighbors would come together.
If we keep going in the present direction, we will always remain “two.”