Everything we say has a possibility of helping people feel either reconciled or rejected.
We can either heal or hurt with our words.
A forest fire can be started with a small spark, and the tongue can be that spark in someone’s life. Though the tongue is only a small part of the body, it is a key to producing words. And so with that small muscle, we can set someone’s world on fire – we can tear them down or we can build them up.
tobymac sings that it’s crazy, amazing that we can turn a heart with the words we say. That hope can live or die due to what we speak, so we should speak life to others.
Are you using your words to build others up – being a reconciler? or do you spend more time tearing others down?
God has committed to me and to you… He has entrusted to us… the ministry of reconciliation. What will you do with this ministry He has handed off to you?
Matt Chandler states it this way: Our understanding of God’s love for us, despite the fact that we don’t deserve it, enables us to love others in spite of themselves. Affection for the Lord leads to affection for others, resulting in outdoing one another in service. It makes us ask ourselves questions like:
How can I be concerned about you and your needs? Why shouldn’t I take the farthest parking spot? How about if I take the seat that’s has a blocked view? What if I lose so you can Win? How can I disadvantage myself for your advantage? What would it mean to consider you more significant than me?
“Compassion linked to the gospel is compassion that goes beyond merely observing hurting people; it sees hurting people and realizes that Jesus loves them immensely. Ultimately, then, it’s not our compassion but the compassion of Jesus that fuels and sustains our desire to act on others’ behalf. When We remember how gracious and compassionate Christ has been to us, our compassion is as sustainable as our remembrance of the gospel” (Matt Chandler).
So how strong is your remembrance of the gospel?
How well do you remember how Christ reconciled you to the Father?
Are you ready to help reconcile others to the Father – even those whom you never had a relationship with before, those to whom you wouldn’t typically be with, because Christ loves them and calls you to it? He is calling you to be relationally intentional toward others so that you can share with them the word of reconciliation… the truth that they can find salvation in Jesus Christ – the transforming Savior.
Because God has radically transformed us, we shared a common bond deeper than anything that can divide us. Let us teach others about that deep, deep love. Become a relationally intentional reconciler.