A Word from the Mister: Reconciliation

I was re-reading this devotional that my husband wrote for Christmas (you don't mind a little Christmas in the Springtime right?) and it was such a good reminder of our purpose and God's love for us. Sean is so intelligent, spirit-filled, and such a constant encouragement to me, I thought it would be nice to share it here so it could also encourage others. I was happy he agreed to let me post it :-) He has such a deep love for the Lord, I am constantly learning from him and encouraged to seek the Lord even more. I'm so blessed to have him as my Mister :-) I'm hoping he will be a regular part of the Bradford Road Blog!

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus by giving gifts to each other, we commemorate a tradition started by God the Father when He gave us the gift of His Son Jesus. His gift is the means through which we are reconciled to God. So let’s consider, what is the significance of reconciliation? Why does it matter that we are allowed back into the presence of God? 

Jesus said, “No one is good but One, that is, God” Luke 18:19. 

photo credit

The key to understanding why being in His presence is of such great importance lies in an understanding of what is good. Goodness is a relative concept. It has a spectrum much like temperature. We use descriptors such as hot and cold to explain our relative experience with energy but notably, there is no such thing as hot or cold. When we use these descriptors we are simply expressing to what degree energy is present or absent. In the same way, there is no such thing as good or evil. These simply describe the presence or absence of God. 

Just as water freezes when energy is absent and vaporizes when it is abundantly present, the degree to which God is present or absent in our lives has a direct effect on our condition. When He is absent, people will lie, cheat, steal, and do other deplorable things. They will be miserable, unfulfilled, and unsatisfied. This is a law of nature just as there is a law that makes water freeze at 32 degrees. Nothing will change that. Without God, we have nothing that is good.

But with God, our condition takes a different state. When He is present in our lives, goodness fills our hearts and satisfies our soul. Not only does it bless us but His goodness overflows from our lives into the lives of others, blessing them as well. This is why having reconciliation is of such infinite importance. With God, we can again have goodness. We can again have life. And not just life as measured by a pulse but life to the fullest. 

Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it MORE abundantly!” (John 10:10).

In this context one can understand the Psalmist who says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11). And again, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere” (Ps. 84:10).

Therefore, to the degree that we seek to have goodness in our hearts and in the hearts of those around us, let us pursue the presence of the Lord. “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6). This is a promise. If vapor is the most energized form of water, how blessed would we be if we were filled with the spiritual equivalent! 

So as we meditate on the tremendous gift of reconciliation, lets take inventory of the level of ‘goodness’ in our lives, thank the Lord for it, then pursue His presence all the more.

linking up with Casey here