Family Reconciliation: 4 Keys to reconciliation
Question: What do we do when we need reconciliation in our family?
Family Reconciliation: What to do when your relational bank account is completely broke?
Is your family falling apart? Have you spent all of your relational capital? Do you want to be completely reconciled? I know because I have been there. Let me sharewith you four biblical keys to reconciliation. Check it out.
Reconciliation Scriptural Foundation
2 Corinthians 5:16–18 (ESV)
“16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation-“
Reconciliation Key #1: Change your view!
How do you view those who are in your family? Often times we can only view them according to their fallen-ness, sinfulness, or bad behavior. This is not the way that God views us. In fact, if God did view us this way we would all be in a heap of trouble come judgment day. God doesn’t view us according to our flesh. God views us looking through the reconciliation that comes through the Gospel: thedeath, burial, resurrection, and appearance of Jesus Christ.
Here is what I am saying. If you want to be a reconciler, then view your family through the reconciliation work of the cross. Jesus’blood was, is, and will always be the only substance that will reconcile us back to the Father.
Reconciliation Key #2: Remember you’re new and they are new!
If your family is in Christ, then they are new. You may be saying wait a minute. What they did was not right, itwas wrong. It broke therelationship andcaused a deficit in my relational bank account,they owe me. They ran up the relational credit card. Yes they probably did butI want to encourage you thatJesus is the one whoreconciles your relational bank account. He has said they are new and so they are.
Reconciliation Key #3: The Old is Gone!
Are you kidding me? Nope! The old is gone? That is right. Reconciliation happens because of Jesus. The old is gone because of Jesus. So stop being a gravedigger. Let the past be the past. The key is letting go and trusting God. Your ability to reconcile is greatly dependent upon your reliance and trust that God is ajust and fair judge. Toomany families hang around the graveyard way to long. What is dead is dead! Let it go and move on.
Reconciliation Key #4: From God through Jesus.
The #1 key to reconciliation (although I put it last so that hopefully you will remember it most)is thatreconciliation must come from God and it must go through Jesus. If the reconciliation is from you and through will power it will always betemporaryreconciliation. However, if it comes from God and through Jesus it will be eternal reconciliation. Eternal reconciliation is what you want.
So what am I saying to you is this: family reconciliation is not only possible, it is probablewhen reconciliation is based on God’s word, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and it comes from God through Jesus. If you need help reconciling a relationship give Peacemaker Ministries a call. 1-800-711-7118
P. Brian Noble