Devotional: Restart: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

“Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation (reconciliation, KJV) for the sins of people” (Heb. 2:17, NASB).

I had not gone to the fitness center to work out for over a year. I stopped going because my wife and I are high risk for being infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus. Instead, I walked and ran on the streets in our neighborhood and tied to be more conscious of the foods that I ate. At last, both my wife and I received our vaccinations. I decided that I would return to the fitness center if I believed it to be a safe place. I visited the center and decided that it was a safe place kept clean by the staff and appropriate protocols were in place to make it a safe place.

I returned to the new location of the fitness center. The exercise machines and free weights were impressive. They even had a track that the members could walk and run on. I soon ran into an old friend. He cautioned me to slowly work myself back into shape because the machines although working the same muscle groups had slightly different angles. I would need to take time for my muscle memory to make the needed adjustments.

The scriptures tell us that we are all out of shape. We are not in right relationship with God. In the world there are many philosophies and religions that offer us a new relationship with the gods and the universe. Although these philosophies and religions might have some value they cannot reorient our lives so that we have relationship with God. God had to do something so that our lives could be fit for a relationship with Him. Not to worry, because from the beginning God had a plan for us to get in shape—to be fit.

God reoriented our muscle memory. He provided a means by which our lives would be able to be in sync with the life of God. Jesus, the Son of God came to reveal the will of His Father. He gave us God’s word so that we might have a new perspective of God and ourselves. He worked to reconcile us to God through His ministry finalized when He was crucified on the cross to redeem us from sin. Through Christ Jesus we are able to get in shape again. We can be reconciled to God. Through Jesus Christ we are given a chance to restart our relationship to God.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for reconciling us to yourself. Amen.