Reconciliation

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Romans 5:10-11: For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Jeff struggled with his father. He perceived that his father was distant. Jeff's father was there in the house. They shared the same space together. At the same time Jeff did not feel the bond with his father that Jeff wanted. When Jeff was old enough, he left home. Jeff felt, "I'm going to go where I can feel connected and accepted and where I can get all the emotional fulfillment I need.

Jeff Sr. was a man of few words. Senior's approach was, "You'll know that I love you by what I do for you." Senior would bend over backwards for Junior, as he called his son, and Jane the daughter. Junior didn't get it. Or at the very least, didn't recognize what Senior was doing. Until...

Jeff fell in with the wrong crowd. He got involved in drugs to fill this emotional hole in his life, as Jeff described it. After Senior found out, he did all that he could do to help his son. One time, Senior was in the courtroom when Jeff was arraigned for selling drugs. Senior posted bail for his son. As Senior was waiting for Jeff outside the jail, he prayed to God, "God be with me as I try to help my son." Jeff came out and saw his dad. They looked at each for what seemed like an eternity. Senior made the first move toward his son, came to him and said, "I know that I am the father you want. But I am here for you and..." Jeff cut him off and said, "Dad, thank you. You are here and I need you now more than ever."

From that moment on, father and son were reconciled, brought back together into strong relationship. Junior was saved by Senior by what Senior did. Junior's life was balanced and reconciled to Senior's. Father God, continue to remind us that we are reconciled to You through Jesus. Amen.