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.

- Colossians 1:19-20

We’re operating on two presuppositions out of this passage today.

First, we’re saying that Christ has already forgiven them (ie. made a move toward reconciliation). Can you see that in “God was pleased … through him to reconcile to himself all things”?

In a mysterious and surprising way, God has made a move – through Christ – toward each and every broken and messed up person around. You will never in your life encounter a single person toward whom God has not already made a move of reconciliation. We never start from scratch.

Second, we’re saying that Christ is in you. Throughout the New Testament we read that Christ dwells in each and every one of us who place our trust in him. This is called “having Christ in us” or “being filled with the Spirit.”

What follows is that all Christ-followers are called to be agents of reconciliation. Christ in us gives us the power to be participants in bringing Christ’s energy of forgiveness and healing even into situations that have nothing directly to do with us. Christ in us has already absorbed all the toxicity of every broken relationship all around the world.

As God calls us to do so, we wade into difficult situations and bring Christ’s healing power with us—not in our own power or authority but in his.

Jesus-followers are called to participate in God’s redeeming and reconciling work. We express the reconciling work of Christ wherever broken relationships happen, in whatever form they appear.

Where in your sphere of influence are there broken relationships? How can you begin to pray-imagine-hope-dream-work as an agent Christ, to allow him to absorb and heal and exchange brokenness for wholeness in situations that cry out for forgiveness?