Reconciliation Requires Sacrifice: a devotion on forgiveness

From an Africa Study Bible touch point:

In South Sudan, the Dinka people settle a dispute with four distinct steps: separation, arbitration, compensation, and reconciliation. In the final stage, two bulls are slaughtered, the meat is exchanged, some is eaten, and the rest is taken home as a sign of peace. In the case of murder, the families of the victim and the perpetrator share a meal after a forgiveness ritual is performed. Both families kill a bull and cook the meat together. Bulls are a family’s wealth and power. The families show that they value their relationship enough to make such a sacrifice. When they eat the meat, the families are reconciled. 

To sacrifice a bull is costly and demonstrates the value of the relationship that is being restored. In the Old Testament, the shedding of the bull’s blood was understood as a symbolic way of appeasing God’s anger. God required the people of Israel to bring animals or birds to the Temple to be sacrificed for their sins. These sacrifices pointed towards the future when God sacrificed his own Son for the sins of all humanity as the way to restore the relationship between God and humans. The blood of Jesus was poured out for our sins.

Today: 

Praise Jesus for His sacrifice, which reconciled us with God. Ask Him to make you into an ambassador, reconciling others with God. Do you have a broken relationship that needs healing? Learn from the Dinka and take specific steps towards reconciliation even if they are costly.