The God who takes the initiative
Whenever there is a two-sided conflict, making peace is a incredibly complex affair. Witness the complexity of getting Israelis and Palestinians to the peace table. We saw it with the Catholics and the Protestants in Northern Ireland. We see it in many conflicts around the world.
When both sides are aggrieved, negotiating a peace is complex. It is far easier to make peace when one side will lay down their right to be aggrieved. When one side will forgive unilaterally. Can we see any evidence that God is willing to do this?
When God is pleading with a rebellious Israel, He said,
"I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you." --- Isaiah 44:22
We don't often appreciate the full impact of this sentiment. We often gloss it over and excuse it away because it doesn't fit our prevailing idea of how God works. But here is God saying He's unilaterally forgiven a rebellious people. The plea to return to Him is not presented as a condition for the forgiveness. The forgiveness is given unilaterally, as a demonstration of the overwhelming goodness of God.
Jesus is represented in scripture as the Man who was heard by God. When we understand God's Presence in Jesus, we can see how consistent is God's will to intercede and forgive without the slightest act of contrition.
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" --- Luke 23:34
We know this request is effective because Jesus' was the Voice that God heard!
A third exhibit for this biblical pattern is found in the passage from Paul that we quoted within Thursday's and Friday's posts.
“God, through Christ, reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God ... Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain ... Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” --- 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, 6:1, 6:2b
Paul says God reconciled Himself "to us," "to the world." "To us" (who believe) He gave a ministry of reconciliation. To "the world" He says, "I've laid down my right to be aggrieved. I'm okay with you ... Now won't you lay down your grievance against me? Won't you be reconciled with me?"
God came to be at peace with us long before we repented. It is why the gospel is such unbelievable good news.
If you're holding out against God, won't you be won over by His humble plea?
If you've been won over by God, won't you join the "ministry of reconciliation"? The task of Christianity is not to radio in coordinates to the heavenly command centre pleading for immediate extraction; it is to boldly launch incursions of peacemaking. When people lay down their defences and protections against God, that is called reconciliation. It is called salvation. For our God is the God who took the initiative.
This post used by permission from The God I Never Knew