By: Bishop Dr. Etta Mhoon-Walker, PhD., DDiv.
Saturday Devotion and Prayer. June 3, 2023
“Reconciliation in Christ”
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him, we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” – Ephesians 2:14-18
As we follow Jesus, it’s important to look ahead to our future with him and to remember his faithfulness in our past. We try to live in the moment to soak up the sights and sounds around us. It’s the time of year when the birds return from their winter migration, and their pre-dawn songs fill the air. By noon, we’re so entrenched in daily tasks we don’t even notice the sound of the birds. You may find yourself doing the same with God. You see him present with you momentarily, but forget his faithfulness until faced with an unexpected hurdle. You want to connect the past with the present, but they seem at odds.
Looking back can be good or bad, depending on our focus. Fixating on the present doesn’t allow the memories of the past to inform us. For example, we may forget the way God made us through a seemingly impossible situation. We’ve long forgotten God’s faithfulness when we face another unexpected problem this week. We question where God is and how he could allow this to happen. We forget the past, which proves his faithfulness when we face an unexpected hardship in our present
Our memories and our current realities can wage war and seem irreconcilable. These can make it hard to remember our inheritance in Christ. There are three things Christ accomplished for us that can help reconcile our past and present. They will help encourage us in our journeys through the shadowed valleys of life.
Do you ever feel God is hard to reach? You may, especially because of unanswered prayers or unmet expectations. But Jesus brought us near to God. The phrase brought us near, is how the ancient world described the relative physical distance a person lived from Jerusalem. The closer your proximity to Jerusalem, the closer you were to God. Because of Jesus, we don’t have to be near Jerusalem to be close to him. He is near to us. Sometimes, we turn our back on him, but he doesn’t turn away from us.
Unexpected problems can stand as a barrier to peace. They can interfere with sleep and our ability to focus on our daily tasks because a problem stands in the way. We can wrestle all night long, wake up, and work half-distracted because we mull over the problem. It can get so big that it prevents us from peace. But Jesus, through his death, brought peace. The kind of peace holds us steady when the storm rages. Our sin separated us from him, and he bridged the gap because reconciliation was Jesus’ objective. It can sometimes feel like our hardships in life can separate us from God. I know how it feels to wonder if God is still for me because I don’t like how he’s moving in my life. But Jesus made it possible for us to enjoy God’s presence continually, even when life doesn’t go our way.
Heavenly Father,
It feels like my circumstances are standing in the way of my relationship with you. I can sometimes forget how you showed your faithfulness in my past when faced with unwanted present circumstances that paint an uncertain future. I don’t know how to reconcile what I know to be true about you with what I’m thinking and feeling. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to bring me near to you, give me your peace, and reconcile my past with my present. You are faithful through it all, and I am so grateful! In Your son Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
