“All this is from God, who . . . gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18
The apostle did not say, “God gives us moments of reconciliation now and then, when we feel like it, with the people we prefer.” No, he said, “God gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” In other words, for us Christians, reconciliation is all we do. Reconciliation is how we roll. Reconciliation is our ministry, and from God at that. We have no right to do anything else. We have no desire to do anything else. Only a ministry of reconciliation is biblical. Anything else is something we’ve made up. But whatever that is, why should anyone care about it?
What if we dared to take new steps of reconciliation toward our enemies and critics and ex-friends? They might refuse us. The Bible says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). Our enemies might turn away. But have we tried? What might God do for us, if we did try? What might God do with churches from whom nothing but forgiving reconciliation flows out?
The Bible says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God” (Romans 12:19). The wrath of God is all the wrath this world needs. What would it be like for nothing but love to flow out from us? People expect us to love our friends who love us. They do not expect us to love our enemies who harm us. People expect us to meet injury with injury. They do not expect us to meet injury with mercy. But that’s how Jesus loved at the cross. He said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). He did not say, “Father, punish them.”
We might wonder, “I’m so small. What can I do to make Jesus more visible in my world?” Here’s what every one of us can do. We can go to the cross, where he died for us, and never leave, but stay right there as we interact with the people who mistreat us. Let’s just stay right there. He will help us, and he will say something prophetic through us.
Reconciliation is our ministry. Our only ministry.
