The Ministry of Reconciliation
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:18
In his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Founding Brothers, Joseph Ellis tells of one of the great friendships in American history. That friendship was remarkable in that it was between two radically different personalities: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Ellis writes, “Adams the short, stout, candid-to-a-fault New Englander; Jefferson, the tall, slender, elegantly elusive Virginian; Adams, the highly combustible, ever combative mile-a-minute talker, whose favorite form of conversation was an argument; Jefferson, the always cool and self- contained enigma, who regarded debate and argument as violations of the natural harmonies inside his own head…They were the odd couple of the American Revolution.”
For two decades they expressed great affection for one another. Adams’ wife, Abigail, said that Jefferson was the only man in whom her husband could fully confide. And when Jefferson’s wife died, it was Adams who filled the role as consoler.
Then, tragically, they got crosswise with one another. Political differences and the resulting arguments grew heated and then accusatory. Beyond that, they found themselves rivals for the presidency. It got vicious. Indeed, in his attempt to defeat Adams’ attempt for a second term, Jefferson hired a journalist to smear his former friend’s reputation.
Jefferson won the election – but at what a cost! For over a decade, no word passed between Jefferson and Adams. Then, as old men, through the help of a mutual friend, they began to reconnect with one another and ended up with their relationship restored.
Indeed, as he lay on his deathbed, Adams’ last words reflected the hope that gave him comfort: “Thomas Jefferson yet lives.” Little did he know that that very day – July 4th, 1826, fifty years to the day after our country’s independence – his “founding brother,” Jefferson, would also pass on.
Blessed are the Peacemakers
What a story of reconciliation! However, if you glance back just 2 paragraphs, there’s a little phrase I don’t want you to miss. Do you see it? This reunion came about “…through the help of a mutual friend.”
Who was this friend? We don’t know. History doesn’t record his name. Yet because of this individual’s commitment to the ministry of reconciliation, two estranged men were brought back together.
The Apostle Paul wrote that “God…has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” Paul didn’t say that he had moments of reconciliation now and then. He said that the Lord had given him “the ministry of reconciliation.”
In other words, “Reconciliation is what I do. It’s how I roll.”
Left to ourselves, we might think it’s okay to leave ex-friends as ex-friends. Why not “just move on”? That’s the glib slogan we use. But to Paul’s way of thinking, that is to take the easy way out.
His commitment to the ministry of reconciliation is reflected elsewhere in his writing: “Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
Such an effort certainly should be made on those occasions when you break down with another. To go to others graciously and humbly, with the goal of mending the rift, results in high praise from the Savior who proclaimed, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
To go to others graciously and humbly, with the goal of mending the rift, results in high praise from the Savior who proclaimed, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
But what if you took that a step further. What if, like the anonymous friend of Adams and Jefferson, you also sought to be a peacemaker for others? What if you looked for ways to get them to the peace table?
Who knows? Though your efforts might not make the history books, they could well in fact be recorded in God’s book.
PRAYER
Lord, by Your grace, I have been reconciled to God. In light of that, help me to embrace the ministry of reconciliation. May I not only be a bridge-building agent between God and man but also between man and man.
Devotionals for Every Day Disciples is brought to you by our partners.
To support Dave DeSelm Ministries by becoming a partner, CLICK HERE.