8. Be in it For the Long Haul
Slide 7 of 7
I want you to understand that this work will not happen easily or quickly. Change and transformation usually don’t move that fast.
If your first opportunity to create reconciliation blows up in your face, don’t give up. If your co-worker looks at you a little funny, don’t give up. If your family thinks you are going coo-coo don’t give up. This is a long journey, that will produce fruit, but it’s going to take some working, watering, and waiting to make it happen. I encourage you to commit to the process. Because whether it’s you or somebody else, these bridges need to be built. Why not let it be you?
The Ultimate Bridge
It wouldn’t be complete to talk about bridge-building and reconciliation without talking about the ultimate bridge and the ultimate bridge-builder. The greatest chasm that has ever existed is the chasm of sin that existed between God and man. We were stuck in our sin with no way of getting reconciled back to the father. However, in heaven, there was one who said I will build a bridge back. This bridge was built with wood and nails—and held together with blood.
This ultimate bridge, the cross of Calvary, has allowed us to be reconciled once again with the father.
Let’s go and model the example of the Ultimate Bridge Builder, Jesus Christ. Let’s follow his lead and go and bring people together. Not under the banner of one race over another. Not even under the banner of the American Flag as great as that is, but under the banner of the cross.
Under the cross, we find not only complete harmony, but complete unity, because we were all in the same condition and have all been redeemed by the same blood. As the old expression goes, the ground is level at the cross. When we stand together under the cross with Christ being exalted, it is in that place where we will be one people and we can truly eliminate racial divides. As a final thought, I will leave you with the elegant words of Paul to the Galatian church:
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:26-28
As one body, let’s get to work and start building bridges. Our world desperately needs it.
Resource: https://bethebridge.com/
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/arkira
Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, teacher, author and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He has spent more than 30 years serving the body of Christ in various capacities and has just released his first book, The Pursuit of Purpose. If you have ever struggled trying to find God’s will, this book will help you discover the different ways God leads you into his perfect will. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.