True Meaning of 'Ministry of Reconciliation'...

(Design from Rugged Country Collections / Hanger #6617 / Izzy 'N The Country - Pictured: Joey Buoy Booklet and Pampered Heart in Rugged Country gift-wrap.)


Yesterday on 'one' of my facebook postings I posed the question: What does reconciliation, within Biblical context, mean to you?  In response to the question I received the expected, usual answers.

Back in the year 2000, in my teaching days as Co-Pastor of New Hope Church, the LORD began a new work in my life in regards to that reconciliation. This work birthed in me a far greater depth of understanding as to what it truly means to be 'reconciled,' when used within the context of our relationship with God through Christ Jesus His Son.

Today, I will explain just a little bit of that revelation and hopefully give you something new for meditation.

First of all, I believe in going deeper by going to the original language and in this case we will go to the Greek:

Colossians 1:20 - And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Reconcile:  (Gk) - (So it's not 'greek' unto us :) - to reconcile completely, to reconcile back again, bring back a former state of harmony.

Question: What do we know about this 'former state of harmony' spoken of here, when it comes to actual relationship with God?  Think on that for just a moment or two!

While you're thinking... let's go a little deeper:

Reconcile: Gk - from, out of, for, off, by, at, since;
1) of separation
1a) of local separation, after verbs of motion from a place i.e. of departing, of fleeing...
1b) of separation of a part from the whole
1b1) where of a whole some part is taken
1c) of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed
1d) of a state of separation, that is of a distance
1d1) physical, of distance of place
1d2) temporal, of distance of time
2) of origin
2a) of the place whence anything is, comes, befalls, is taken
2b) of origin of a cause

Really?  Well now, I tend to think that this gives us ample cause to pause - right here!  Don't you agree?

I'm being brought back unto a God who I've been separated from since nearly the time of the origination of man? Yes! Yes, indeed, that is absolutely correct!

Here's the best example of this same principle in a real life-like today reality:  When you've never met someone you were actually 'birthed from,' such as is the case in many instances where, say perhaps a child has been separated from his natural parent at birth. (Ahhh! We're putting it in proper perspective for you here.  So tell me, are any lights beginning to turn on for you yet?)

Oh, the elation over that discovery of the natural parent! Amen? You have heard of it, and seen the stories about it played out, even on television; haven't you?

Can I ask a pointed question at this point? What happens with these people?  What takes place on an emotional level with them upon their first meeting? Excitement? Sheer satisfaction in knowing that they've finally been brought back together with that 'one' that they belong with? Yes. At the same time we would be so completely foolish not to acknowledge the level of discomfort that exists in their first time meeting! After all, these people, who by all natural rights and reasonings should have known each other in a very certain, intimate way, comparable to no other relationship due to their natural bond, now instead find themselves to be completely estranged from one another.

Estrange: 1948 New Century Dictionary - that is without; foreign; To cause without, foreign. To cause to be strange or as a stranger; remove to or keep at a distance; also, to divert from the original use or possessor; also, to turn away in feeling or affection; alienate, the affections of.

2 Corinthians 5:18 - And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

Well now, here's the interesting revelation given me in 2000: In God's opinion there is a little but highly significant word tucked into that powerful and truly instructive and enlightening scripture of the Bible as it relates to our new-found relationship with God through Christ Jesus!!

For now ... 

And until next time when we will continue this discussion ...

Chalkin' it out with you ...

Here on imaginary black spaces.

Izzy Herriette & Co
ginger d. renken