A Season of Reconciliation

Earlier this summer, my wife and I bought our first house.  It was very exciting for us.  We put a lot of work into it, and finally in October we moved in.  Because of the work and money put into the home, Rebekah and I have decided not to buy each other any gifts this year.  This has caused me to meditate more on how I can give gifts that can't be bought.  As our church has been preparing for Advent and the Christmas season, my pastor has been preaching on these intangible gifts as well.  He has mentioned several times that Christmas needs to be a season of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.

The concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation saturate Scripture.  In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus admonishes us to leave our sacrifices at the altar and go be reconciled with the one we have wronged.  Paul says in Romans 5:10, say that even though we were enemies of God we were "reconciled to God through the death of His Son". (HCSB)  

If the person of Jesus is the heart of the Christian message, then the concept of reconciliation is the life-blood coursing through its veins.  Scripture is very clear that through the death of Christ we are reconciled to God, and because of the sacrifice of Christ we can also be reconciled to each other.  Forgiving someone who has wronged you or seeking forgiveness from someone you have wronged is one of the best gifts you can give this Christmas season.  Be reconciled to each other.

There is no limit on forgiveness.  Jesus commands us in regards to forgivness to do what it seems we are incapable of doing, forgive others in the same way God has forgiven you.  C.S. Lewis said in Weight of Glory, "to be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you".  This couldn't be more true.

This Christmas season, if you have been wronged, choose to forgive.  If you have wronged someone else, seek forgiveness.  Choosing to forgive someone who has sinned against you is giving them the most precious gift you can give.  We are all prone to wander.  We are prone to forget the gift of forgiveness and reconciliation God has given us in Christ Jesus.

I love the words that Matthew West wrote in a song called "Forgivneness".

It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It's always anger's own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It's the whisper in your ear saying 'Set It Free'

Let's seek the most precious gifts this season.  Celebrate reconciliation to God and to each other.  Celebrate the Incarnation.  Celebrate the King of Heaven come to earth to set men free.  Celebrate Jesus, the Great Reconciler of sinners to God

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Piper, John.  "C.S. Lewis on the Problem of Forgiveness.
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/c-s-lewis-on-the-problem-of-forgiveness