Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:17-19)

We remember, on this Reconciliation Day, the miraculous transformation that our country experienced in 1994.  We give thanks for many answered prayers as cooperation rather than conflict marked our transition into democracy.  We also recognise that there is much more work to be done. Although there has been progress and transformation at many levels, issues of discrimination and disparity still remain. This COVID19 dominated year has had particular social and economic challenges and has led to much frustration and friction in our communities. 

Scripture teaches us that reconciliation is central to the message of the gospel.  Our holy God established an eternal relationship with rebellious sinners through the reconciling work of Christ on the Cross. That message has been committed to all believers as we proclaim the gospel of reconciliation to a lost and alienated world.  It is the church that should take the lead in demonstrating reconciled communities from every tongue, tribe, and ethnicity and all for the ultimate purpose of proclaiming God’s reconciling work in Christ.  

We encourage every believer to live out the message of reconciliation in both word and action.  May the Lord help us to demonstrate reconciliation through our human relationships and to point all the more clearly to the ultimate reconciliation God has secured with sinners through the cross of Christ. 

God Bless Africa;
Guard her children;
Guide her leaders
And give her peace, 
for Jesus Christ’s sake.
Amen.