2 Chronicles 17-18 | John 13:1-20

“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

Some of the biggest questions that we may have pondered in our life are: Who in the world am I? What in the world am I doing here? Why in the world am I important? Am I important? Often, to answer these questions, people try to create their own sense of significance, their own sense of meaning and their own sense of purpose. We may read self-help books for answers, listen to motivational speakers for inspiration or observe how other people live their lives and try to imitate them. However, the answers to the questions of who we are, what we are doing in this world and whether we are important lies not within ourselves or what others tell us but in God.

 
From the beginning of the Bible, we learn that God created the whole universe in six days. When He created humanity, He made us in His image: “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). Different from any other living being, “the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). Every breath that we take is actually a breath from God. This demonstrates the intimacy that we are to have with God, but the first humans sinned and disobeyed God’s command that He gave: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Because humanity ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their relationship with God was broken. Humanity, who once enjoyed deep intimacy with God, lost their peace with God—they were separated from God because of sin. This is where our basic conflict lies.

To have peace with God is where we recognize that we are alienated from God, separated from God due to sin, and that Christ is our substitute who satisfied the wrath of God and imparted to us His own righteousness. If we are not reconciled to God, not synchronized with God and are trying to live independent from God, we cannot make sense of this life. Why? Because we were created to know Him and to live in relationship with Him.

Have we been reconciled to God? As we return to our relationship with God our identity, purpose and significance will all make sense.

PRAYER

Almighty God, only in You do I have a true understanding of my identity, purpose and significance. Thank You for reconciling my relationship with You through Jesus Christ. Praise You!