The Door of Reconciliation /和解之门
Dexu Xia
The Door of Reconciliation
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18
Inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland, there’s a door that tells a five-century-old tale. In 1492 two families, the Butlers and the FitzGeralds, began fighting over a high-level position in the region. The fight escalated, and the Butlers took refuge in the cathedral. When the FitzGeralds came to ask for a truce, the Butlers were afraid to open the door. So the FitzGeralds cut a hole in it, and their leader offered his hand in peace. The two families then reconciled, and adversaries became friends.
God has a door of reconciliation that the apostle Paul wrote passionately about in his letter to the church in Corinth. At His initiative and because of His infinite love, God exchanged the broken relationship with humans for a restored relationship through Christ’s death on the cross. We were far away from God, but in His mercy He didn’t leave us there. He offers us restoration with Himself—“not counting people’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Justice was fulfilled when “God made [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us,” so that in Him we could be at peace with God (v. 21).
Once we accept God’s hand in peace, we’re given the important task of bringing that message to others. We represent the amazing, loving God who offers complete forgiveness and restoration to everyone who believes.
Reflect & Pray
What does God’s offer of reconciliation mean to you? How will you extend His offer to those who need to hear it today?
God, thank You for not leaving me in a place of no hope, separated from You forever. Thank You that the sacrifice of Your beloved Son, Jesus, has provided the way for me to come to You.
和解之门
一切都是出于上帝，祂藉着基督使我们与祂和好，又将劝人与祂和好的职分赐给我们。-哥林多后书5章18节
在爱尔兰都柏林的圣派翠克大教堂内，有一扇门述说着五百多年前的故事。在1492年，巴特勒和菲茨杰拉德这两个家族为了争夺权位而起了冲突。后来冲突越演越烈，巴特勒家族躲进大教堂避难。当菲茨杰拉德家族要求停战时，巴特勒家族不敢开门。于是，菲茨杰拉德家族在门上切开一个洞，他们的领袖则冒险从洞中向对方伸出和平之手。这两个家族终于和解，从仇敌变成了朋友。
上帝也有一扇和解之门。在写给哥林多教会的书信中，使徒保罗也热切地传达了上帝与人和好的信息。由于上帝无限的爱，祂主动让我们能藉着基督在十字架上受死，恢复与祂的关系。我们曾远离上帝，但因上帝的怜悯，祂并未撇弃我们。上帝还藉着基督使世人与祂和好，“不将他们的过犯归到他们身上”（哥林多后书5章19节）。上帝使无罪的基督担当我们的罪，满足了上帝对公义的要求，使我们能藉着基督与祂和好（21节）。
一旦我们接受上帝伸出的和平之手，就被赋予传扬这个和好信息的重责大任。这位奇妙慈爱的上帝会完全赦免相信祂的人，并恢复与他们的关系，现在让我们成为祂的和平大使，传扬这好消息吧！
上帝啊，谢谢祢并未让我留在绝望、永远与祢隔绝之处。
感谢祢藉着耶稣为我提供一条亲近祢的道路。
对你来说，上帝与人和好有何意义？
你如何将这和好的信息传给那些需要的人呢？