From the mission of repentance to the mission of reconciliation. Just as we are to call those around us to repentance, so too are we to call them to reconciliation, and thus salvation. "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10). As you look forward to the week ahead, look for opportunities to share in this mission of reconciliation to which we are called.
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
(Psalm 34:1-3)
This psalm reminds us that the Lord hears the afflicted and acts on their behalf so that they might rejoice. When we fail in some way or are overcome by circumstances, the Lord is there for us. We can glory in Him because He cares for us and desires good for us. That is not only the Lord's desire; He also acts on our behalf in order "to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair" (Isaiah 61:3). This is done so that we might be reconciled to God even when we prove unfaithful. Thank God that His heart is toward us, because He loves us.
I can almost hear David singing these verses. He had experienced the dark valley - he knew the fear of being alone. Yet, he trusted, he sang, and he proclaimed that God IS Good! Is that not what we are called to do?
"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:1-3)
There is always the temptation to avoid being seen with the "wrong" people; to have the time we spend with those who are struggling with sin be seen as, in some sense at least, condoning that sin. Jesus faced that problem, but as always He erred on the side of grace. Jesus is a friend of sinners. Good thing, too, since we are all of us sinners. As we go about our day, we must be careful about turning away from opportunities to share the gospel because we fear how things look or what people will think. The Spirit should always guide us in such matters, and when the Spirit leads us there is no need to fear.
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15:31-32)
Here is a second temptation, which is to be frustrated or even angry when those who have rejected Jesus find themselves welcomed back into the family. We who have served tirelessly, who have toiled for years for the Kingdom, can react to the blessings others who have not been working long at all may receive. But like the angels we are to rejoice at the reconciliation which has taken place, and if we remind ourselves that this reconciliation is what we are about in the first place, we can.
"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. 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 5:18-20)
We who have been reconciled to God are now called to the ministry of reconciliation. Or, to coin a phrase, we are to be disciples who make disciples (or perhaps in this case ambassadors who make ambassadors). Those who belong to Christ do not have their sins counted against them, and that message has been committed to us. As you go about your day, serve as an ambassador, seeking to lead others to be reconciled to God through Christ.
From the mission of repentance to the mission of reconciliation. Just as we are to call those around us to repentance, so too are we to call them to reconciliation, and thus salvation. "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10). As you look forward to the week ahead, look for opportunities to share in this mission of reconciliation to which we are called.
ReplyDeleteI will extol the Lord at all times;
ReplyDeletehis praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
(Psalm 34:1-3)
This psalm reminds us that the Lord hears the afflicted and acts on their behalf so that they might rejoice. When we fail in some way or are overcome by circumstances, the Lord is there for us. We can glory in Him because He cares for us and desires good for us. That is not only the Lord's desire; He also acts on our behalf in order "to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair" (Isaiah 61:3). This is done so that we might be reconciled to God even when we prove unfaithful. Thank God that His heart is toward us, because He loves us.
I can almost hear David singing these verses. He had experienced the dark valley - he knew the fear of being alone. Yet, he trusted, he sang, and he proclaimed that God IS Good! Is that not what we are called to do?
ReplyDelete"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:1-3)
ReplyDeleteThere is always the temptation to avoid being seen with the "wrong" people; to have the time we spend with those who are struggling with sin be seen as, in some sense at least, condoning that sin. Jesus faced that problem, but as always He erred on the side of grace. Jesus is a friend of sinners. Good thing, too, since we are all of us sinners. As we go about our day, we must be careful about turning away from opportunities to share the gospel because we fear how things look or what people will think. The Spirit should always guide us in such matters, and when the Spirit leads us there is no need to fear.
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15:31-32)
ReplyDeleteHere is a second temptation, which is to be frustrated or even angry when those who have rejected Jesus find themselves welcomed back into the family. We who have served tirelessly, who have toiled for years for the Kingdom, can react to the blessings others who have not been working long at all may receive. But like the angels we are to rejoice at the reconciliation which has taken place, and if we remind ourselves that this reconciliation is what we are about in the first place, we can.
"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. 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 5:18-20)
ReplyDeleteWe who have been reconciled to God are now called to the ministry of reconciliation. Or, to coin a phrase, we are to be disciples who make disciples (or perhaps in this case ambassadors who make ambassadors). Those who belong to Christ do not have their sins counted against them, and that message has been committed to us. As you go about your day, serve as an ambassador, seeking to lead others to be reconciled to God through Christ.
Good Sabbath. As we prepare our hearts and minds for worship today, may the Lord be exalted through our gathering together. See you in church!
ReplyDelete