May 24, 2011

Reconciled to God

Romans 5:1-11

We … boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:11

— 

Etiquette gurus relish giving advice on what to eat for business lunches. The most common suggestion is not to order foods that stain, are hard to eat, or get stuck in your teeth. No wonder it took me a while to make my choice during a lunch with radio network executives. I settled on a simple sandwich and a bowl of soup.

But my meal choice turned out to be a disaster. The soup was too spicy. I coughed because of the spice, and my food went down the “wrong way,” into my windpipe. Soon I started coughing badly, almost choking. It looked serious; everyone was alarmed. Fortunately, the Heimlich maneuver wasn’t needed, and I soon began breathing normally again. But our negotiations with that station didn’t go so well.

The first meal described in the Bible was very simple—more like a light snack. But it led to tragedy. At the serpent’s urging, Adam and Eve ate the fruit that God had told them not to eat. They didn’t start choking. But their disobedience to God resulted in sin, death, and our separation from God.

The joyful news is that God didn’t abandon us in our predicament. He sent his Son, who saved us from the grave consequences of Adam’s action and our own disobedience. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection he reconciles us to God the Father.

Heavenly Father, thank for reconciling us to you, through your Son. Thank you for delivering us, in Christ, from the sin of Adam and our own sins! Amen.

About the author — Sergei Sosedkin

Sergei Sosedkin is the Russian-language ministry leader for ReFrame Ministries. He is a native of Moscow, Russia. As he oversees the Russian-language ministry, Sosedkin works from our office in Grand Rapids and in various locations in Russia.

Start your day with quick daily devotions.

See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!