Be Reconciled

This particular spring afternoon, my husband and I set off in the pedal boat on the pond. We planned to spray the aquatic weeds and lily pads to deter any further growth. As we carried the little boat to the pond’s edge, our cat, Goldie trailed along behind us. Just like most cats she was extremely curious about what was going on and just had to get close enough to check us out.

Once afloat, we proceeded to the first area to be sprayed and Goldie kept up with us along the bank. After a few minutes we heard the most mournful wailing. This sad and pitiful cry was coming from my cat. I suppose she thought we would be drifting further and further away, possibly never coming back to her. This was a strange and new behavior to us and we’d not had much experience with cats to make any comparisons.

For the entire time we were on the water, proceeding on our zig-zagging course, she followed along the pond’s bank continuing that sad sounding cry. When we came back to the shore, she actually came aboard without any coaxing! What was that I’d always heard about cats and water? Not so this day! She was so glad we came back to her she practically jumped in the boat.

Now, how might this relate as a devotion? Thinking back on the day, I was reminded how much God loves us and that often we as Christians drift away, just as Brooks and I did in the boat that day. I imagine that God circles about us, much like Goldie did, watching, waiting, and possibly in His spirit, wailing at our distance from Him.

There is joy for those that are in Christ Jesus if you find yourself having drifted far from God. We see this in 2 Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” God’s Word also tells us that once sin is confessed, it is forgiven and forgotten. There are several places to find this promise. You can read it in I John 1:19, Hebrews 10:17 and Micah 7:19.

If you find that you have drifted, if you realize that you are far from God today take a few minutes to ponder this verse from Romans 5:11, “and not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” The verse says that now we are reconciled, not in a few minutes, next week or next year.

He is waiting and ready to hear your prayer. Reconcile yourself to God today and receive His grace NOW, new and fresh.

--The Pond 2016