1983, former IRA member Ira McClosky stood on stage with protestant military member Jimmy Gibson—both men on furlough from prison but now converted Christians—and said, “Before, if I had seen Jimmy on the street, I would have shot him. Now he’s my brother in Christ and I would die for him.”

How does something like that happen?

Remember the illustration from last week about us being magnets? I said when we try to come close to God, it’s like trying to make the wrong ends of two magnets touch when all they want to do is repel. So, we have to be converted. Jesus changes us so that we can come before God. And not just come before, but be welcomed into his house and made a member of his family!!

Once in there, though, something else needs to happen:

7.26.9 – Reconciliation

How did we get here? Let’s look back at our Faith Pyramid. Everything starts with: God is. Then, He Has Spoken. There is Truth. God Loves the World. He Has Come. God in 3 Persons. Conversion. And now, Reconciliation.

In the Beginning

Matthew 5:9
People who make peace are happy, because they will be called the sons of God. (IEB)

Back at the very beginning of his ministry, three years before the cross, Jesus was already saying that his followers would be people who make peace—not just between themselves and God—but between themselves and other people, between people and people, and between people and God.

In the Ministry

Who here is thankful to be forgiven of their sins?

Matthew 6:12, 14
“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us … for if you forgive others of their sins, God will forgive your sins.”

Did you catch that?!?! Jesus is promising us that God will only be as forgiving as we are.

I asked you if you were thankful to be forgiven of your sins. If so (and I’m sure you are), as a Christian you have a blessed obligation to share that forgiveness!

Matthew 18:23-35
"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." (ESV)

Doctor James Dobson once mentioned a lady he knew who didn’t have stress but was a carrier.

Last week, I talked about us being converted—made something different from what we’ve been. An indicator that we really have been converted—have been remade from what we used to be into God’s agent—is that we are people who don’t just have peace, we are carriers.

The On-Going Task

The work of salvation has been done (at the cross), but Jesus has given us the on-going task of carrying out the reconciliation he started.

John 13:12-15
After Jesus had washed their feet, he put on his clothes and sat down at the table again. He asked them, “Do you know what I have just done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You are right, because I am the Teacher and the Lord. Since I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I give you an example. You should do things for others as I have done for you.” (IEB)

We did that here recently. I can tell you two things for sure about washing someone else’s feet: it’ll take you out of your comfort zone and it is very humbling.

I think that’s the message of the basin and the towel. As God’s agents of reconciliation in this world, we’re going to have to step out of our comfort zone and—often, maybe always—it’s going to be a very humbling experience. It’s going to mean doing the lowliest things for someone else because we have placed their salvation above our own pride.

And What About Us?

We practice this reconciliation here in the body so we’ll be better at it out in the world.

Romans 12:3
Through God’s gracious love which has been given to me, I am telling each one of you, don’t think you are better than you really are. Instead, be modest in the way you think. God distributed a measure of faith to each person. (IEB)

One of the amazing things about God’s grace is that, through it, he has provided us with exactly the tools we need to accomplish the work he’s given us to do!

What do I DO with this?
• Humble yourself
• Find a way to step out of your comfort zone and serve someone else, which will
• Lead them to reconciliation with God and their fellow man