Reconciled to Him

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.(2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

We have been "reconciled" to God through the atonement of Jesus Christ, whose blood erased the stain of the sin and the tragic record of our past. We are "new," untainted, unencumbered, and set free from a debilitating record of moral and spiritual failure, and the Gospel speaks to the new creature. The old man seeks to convince us that a cleaned-up version of ourselves is sufficient, but it clearly is not. God would have us move and think forward, and in terms we have never considered -- spiritual terms.

Our preaching is not to focus on how sad and sinful men are, but how good and gracious our God is. We are to be walking, loving, and living examples of what the Lord desires to do for every man and woman. We are not superhuman or special, nor are we spiritual monuments or trophies. The Lord has placed us in this rough and tumble world to walk by faith and glorify Him in the most ordinary ways. When others see the perfection of Christ working itself out through imperfect people like us, they have a reason to hope and believe. That is the word of reconciliation; "God saved and sanctified me, and He can do the same for you, too." Keep preaching, beloveds. Others we may not be aware of are listening. God is reconciling the world to Christ through us. Be reconciled!

Let's Pray - Father, may I be faithful to preach the message of reconciliation through the Cross of Christ Jesus. Use me to help bring many sons and daughters to glory. In Jesus alone, Amen.