Reconciliation

To do this ministry, we, ourselves, must realize that we are reconciled to God

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person — though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.   (Romans 5:6-11)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.   (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Do we understand that we have been reconciled to God? This has been accomplished by the blood of His Son:

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present youholy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.   (Colossians 1:19-23)

With this understanding let us practice the ministry of reconciliation:

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.   (Matthew 5:23-24)

Let us set the sample for others to follow. God needs us and requires us to do the ministry of reconciliation:

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

And he shall turn and reconcile the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse and a ban of utter destruction.   (Malachi 4:5-6)