The Case for Reconciliation

How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!
–Psalm 133:1

Reconciliation is not unconditional, but that doesn’t mean it’s unimportant. Over and over again, Scripture talks about the importance of reconciliation:

• “How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).
• “[Be] diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
• “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:2).

Make no mistake about it: God wants you to be reconciled with those who have wronged you.

Reconciliation is important for two reasons. First of all, reconciliation testifies to God’s power. In John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Christians’ love and forgiveness toward one another is a powerful witness to the world of the reality of the Christian faith. In the same way, nothing is a poorer witness than Christians’ inability to get along with one another.

Second, reconciliation empowers us to resist the enemy. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul said, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” The greatest struggle you’re facing right now is not against a difficult boss or an indifferent mate; it’s against the spiritual forces of darkness. Satan loves to divide Christians, then isolate Christians, and then attack Christians. There is strength in numbers. That’s why reconciliation is so important.

But although reconciliation is always preferable, it is not always possible. In Romans 12:18, Paul said, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Forgiveness depends on you, but reconciliation doesn’t always depend on you. A lot of people misunderstand this. They don’t realize that it is the offended party who gets to decide whether a broken relationship is reconciled based on what their offender does or doesn’t do. Forgiveness is unconditional, but reconciliation is conditional.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Forgiving People You Never Want to Eat Lunch with Again,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2015.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.