Good morning! Thank for joining me again. Today, we will finish reading the final verses of 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 18 through 19, with a reminder from the Apostle Paul of our task.
Bible Verse – 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NLT
“18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[e] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
Reflection
Like the first creation of the universe, the new creation is initiated by God: All this is from God (1 John 4:10). Like the first creation, the new creation becomes real through the work of Christ (Colossians 1:16). Christ’s death on the cross makes it possible for reconciliation to God (Romans 5:10-11). Reconciliation involves removing rebellious and sinful man’s enmity toward God (Romans 5:10). Since Christ bore our sins on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), He made peace possible (Ephesians 2:11-19). By trusting ourselves to the reconciling work of Christ alone, people pass from God’s wrath to God’s blessing (Acts 16:30-31; Romans 8:1). The beauty of this is that our sins are no longer counted against us because Christ has taken them on Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18). This is the message of reconciliation.
There was a time in our lives where Christ was just a name we knew. It was a person who we celebrated at Christmas and Easter. We have often turned away from the message of hope and salvation – reconciliation, in hope that we could accept Christ and move on with our own lives. But that’s not how it should work. On one special day our testimony of deliverance marked the turn of events. It was the day we said, “yes, to God,” believed in His son Jesus Christ and accepted Jesus as our Redeemer and Savior. Because of that day we have been reconciled to God.
Do you remember that day? Do you remember the feeling when you said, “yes” to God?
Sisters and brothers, as a result of our best yes, we are now ambassadors for Christ. We are the ones with the task to share our testimonies and call others back to God.
Given this task, how will you live out today and the remainder of this year? _____ Will you be bold for Christ or will you hide your testimony and dismiss opportunities for others to come to Christ?
My prayer is that you will be bold for Christ.
Prayer
Father God, thank you for who you are. Thank you for the provisions you have made for us and your love for us. Forgive us for the sins we committed against you. Father God, thank you for bringing us back to you over and over again. Lord, continue to transform us into the people that you have called us to be. Lord, give us boldness to speak and tell others about Christ Jesus in us. Lord, awaken us from a stagnant relationship with you. Revive us and make us new. Show us where to go, who to share your word with and how to share it in a way that reaches the lost, least, and last.
Lord, as we go about our day, we ask that you go before us. Make our crooked paths straight. Guide our thoughts, hearts, and tongues to be aligned with yours. Lord, give us peace today. Help us to feel your presence and love. Lord, open doors for those who are seeking new jobs, opportunities, and/or expansion of their business. Lord, bring the right people their way. Lord, direct our steps. Watch over the innocent children of this world and keep them safe from abuse and harm. Lord, be with their parents and guide their parents. Lord, give us softer hearts to hear from you and to obey. Lord, give us favor as we lean more on you in every situation in our lives. Lord, heal those who are sick and weary. Be with those who are battling cancer. Lord, we also praise you for healing my niece from breast cancer. Lord, continue to be with those who are still in the battle and strengthen them through their treatments.
Lord, finally we ask that you clean our hearts, homes, schools, and workplaces. Lord, remove any spirit that is not of you. Pour out your Holy Spirit in every place we find ourselves and cover us from the attacks of the enemy and his followers.
In Jesus name, amen.
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