Reconciliation Cactus

 God just never gets tired of giving us gifts.  He gives very good and perfect gifts too.  Here's an interesting one...God,

"gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV)!

God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and then gift wrapped the ministry back to us!  It's ripe for the picking.

Recently I've eaten some fruit called "dragon fruit".  It is delicious and refreshing.  It grows on a "tree" called, you guessed it, "a dragon fruit tree".  Actually, it's more like a cactus, afterall it is from the cactus family.  

Did you see the picture of it above?  A friend sent that to me.  See how the fruit is at the end of the "frond" or is that a 'dragon tail' and looks a bit like Christmas tree ball ornaments - well, sort of....

Anyway, reconciling with God is amazingly beautiful and He loves it so much He wants us to pass it on and forward, reconciling with people in our lives and among our acquaintances.  Each time we do, it's like adding another red ornament on the reconciliation cactus or a dragon fruit blossom turned to delectable fruit.  Refreshing for our relationships and giving God our gratitude, adoration and worship through such a "ministry of reconciliation," in Jesus' name.  

We have become more like Him in so doing.  This is what "new creatures" in Christ do.  Let God's love gift compel us to forgive our debtors as our Heavenly Father has forgiven us our debts (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4).  

In so doing make reconciliation flourish.

                                                   ~ERC  October 2022~

Based on 2 Corinthians 5::14-19 (NIV).

Sing, The Lord's Prayer, along with Andrea Bocelli. 

Note:  I realize these verses are also talking about evangelism, to bring others to Christ, sharing the message of Jesus so others can also be "reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ".  However, our being reconciled to others through forgiving their grievances and sins against us, is all part of it.