“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)
I have trouble reading past the first 8 verses of this chapter- for they give me so much hope, I just want to stop and soak in them. Paul’s brilliance in writing is on display as he takes us from earthly tent to building to eternal house to heavenly dwelling. He speaks of groaning and of longing, meaning so much more than groaning because of sore muscles, for he is speaking of spiritual groaning as we struggle in this earthly tent with sin. He speaks of the confidence we have through the Presence of the Holy Spirit, living by faith and not by sight,wanting to be with the Lord, and therefore living our lives in the fear of the Lord – defined here as - living each day to please Him, filled with theknowledge that we will appear before Him to receive what is due.
This hope, this confidence and this knowledgeshould drive us to seek to persuade others.
we should see others differently
we should see Christ differently
we should see our purpose in this life differently
For God has given us a ministry that consists of proclaiming the message of reconciliation.
May we implore those we rub shoulders with today, to be reconciled to God through Christ.
The old is gone – the new has come, for in Christ we are the righteousness of God!
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