Healer of Broken Relationships
Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.
Sin involves not only violating a command but also betraying a relationship. Not only do we need Jesus Christ to receive the punishment we deserve, but we also need someone to heal our broken relationships.
If a husband has an affair, the wife feels hurt and distrusts him, and even if she wants to restore their relationship, trust too must be restored.
In our sins we betray God. Genesis 6:5-6 says, “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.”
Can couples who have endured the pain of betrayal be reconciled? Sometimes. Those who survive betrayal to have a loving, trust-filled relationship almost always need someone to help them reconcile.
Similarly, because we have betrayed God, we need someone to reconcile us to God. The broken relationship between each of us and God can be restored and healed through the work of Jesus. He came to make all things new, including our relationship with God. Jesus, our reconciler, draws us back to God even when we want to run the other way.
Jesus our reconciler, thank you for the ultimate sacrifice you paid not only to cover the penalty for our sin but also to reconcile us to God. Without you, we would be alone forever. Amen.
About the author — Mark Stephenson
Rev. Mark Stephenson is the Director of Disability Concerns for the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Previously he served in two congregations in Michigan. He and his wife have four children.
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