Costly Reconciliation

I recently attended a seminar on conflict and reconciliation. I don’t think of myself as someone who’s embroiled in a lot of conflict, but I’ve had my share. I’m human, and I’m in church leadership. That means that I’ll occasionally offend and be offended.

I heard stories about conflict gone wrong, and the cost to set things right again. Some stories were ugly. Some conflicts have sent ripples across the globe, and have caused unimaginable hurt.

When the hurt is real, reconciliation is costly. Even when it’s costly, it’s often not complete.

But then there’s Jesus.

As I took communion on Sunday, I thought of the hurt my sin has caused. I’ve committed treason against God himself. I’ve hurt others, but mostly I’ve sinned against a holy God who has every right to condemn me.

But reconciliation has taken place, and it was costly. In all of history, nobody has paid a greater price for reconciliation than Jesus.

It’s also a full reconciliation. Nothing remains to be done. He’s done it all.

A peacemaking seminar to show me the ugliness of unresolved conflict, and gave me a window into the ugliness of my sin against a holy God. But as I took the bread and wine, I thanked God for the costly and full reconciliation bought by the blood of my Savior Jesus. There’s no greater gift that I’ve ever received.