Day 10 of Knowing Him: An Easter Devotional (view all days)
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again…. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 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. (2 Corinthians 5:14-19)
Many theologians have thought that “reconciliation” may be as important a word as any other in the biblical vocabulary of salvation. It is a word from the world of human relationships. It is that wonderful thing that sometimes happens when people at enmity with each other steer a course toward each other to confess wrongdoing, to repair a rift, to make up, to set aside differences, to cease hostilities, to reconcile.
Most people don’t really believe they are at enmity with God. They think that God is quite favorably disposed toward them. After all, why wouldn’t he be? Aren’t we quite lovable the way we are?
God’s love is not infatuation or God just being “nice.” The God of love loves the unlovable with a rigorous commitment. He loves human beings who have ignored him, thought in their arrogance that they don’t really need him, and who have been gods to themselves. God’s love sees us for who we can be, not who we are.
Christ, who had no sin, stood in the place of the sinner so that the sinner could stand before God–enmity gone, opposition put aside, friends again.
And thus we bear a message of reconciliation and we have a ministry of reconciliation. In other words when people in the world think of Christians, they ought to think: oh, yes, those are the people who are passionate about peace and reconciliation. They live in it and they live for it.
Here is the question: is that what people really do see in our attitudes and values?
[This daily devotional will appear through Easter. You may receive via email.]
I think more people see troubled people than saved ones. Most people come to our Lord from a time of hardship or discouragement. And it takes a lot of time and intention to become “Christ-like”, to put away self. I think that is why many turn away. We have let our churches teach about prosperity, but we don’t want to hear that Jesus was severely beaten and nailed to a cross because we can’t be perfect. And in His love for us He had to do what we could never do for ourselves. Thank You Lord for Your sacrifice!
Most people don’t really believe they are at enmity with God. They think that God is quite favorably disposed toward them.
The God of love loves the unlovable with a rigorous commitment. He loves human beings who have ignored him, thought in their arrogance that they don’t really need him. God’s love sees us for who we can be, not who we are.
I pray Lord that I may become more like you every day. You showed your love for us by sending your son. I pray that I may be able to love like you do everyday and with everyone.
To be truthful, I didn’t know that we can have an enmity relationship with God. I just knew that I loved him and was thankful for his son/my savior and wanted to be like him and please him. So thank you for letting me know this information and praise God for it.
I want to first Thank and Praise God for the Ministry of Reconcilation. If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side where would I be. When we were on our way to Hell Christ died for us! Thank you Lord for the plan of salvation. Thank God for coming out of His comfort zone, wrapping Himself in the flesh to be born of a virgin, to suffer and die so that I may have life and that more abundantly. Thank God for Jesus, the sacrficial Lamb of God!!!! Hallelujah!!!!
I think how we are perceived when we stumble is as important as how we are perceived (as Christians) when we are doing good. We need to show that we get up again, we strive again, because we are constantly being repaired from Christ within us.
Wonderful words Tess! This is so true. For many years the Christian community as a whole has too often been perceived as those who are better than the non-Christian. We stumble and fall as much as they do. The difference I tell them is Jesus picks me up and heals me! He gives me reason to move forward and do all I can to live a live that pleases Him! The secular world needs to know this.
Our depth of relationship with God can only go as deep as we are willing to go with others in our earthly relationships. Those that have hurt us before, being willing to open ourselves up to them again…….and again. To live intimately with those that wouldn’t be our first choice to have over for dinner. The ones where conversation is akward and strange. But to see Christ burst thru that, that is what salvation/relationship is about. Not just so we can stay safe from the fires of hell, but so that we can love like He loves, hurt like He hurt, overcome the way He overcame! Feasting on the riches of friendships. Living, hurting, growing and laughing together is what we were created for.
Thanks for the profound thoughts, Judi.
I think in todays world the average christian is more concerned with public opinion than with a true deep commitment to developing a Christ like persona that makes them stand different from the crowd. Christians as much as anyone else want an eye for an eye without the love it takes to not only turn the other cheek but to love the offender of the blow, in alot of cases christians want to make the preemptive strike before they are hurt. In fairness, in todays society many groups of people are calling themselves christians without understanding that to be a christian is a wholly committed self sacrificing surrender to Jesus Christ as lord and master, and the actions of these groups of people are by who and what true christians and being judged by.
They do not see the truth as we see it, we believe in our Lord so strongly but some only see what they feel they need such as things that are collections or hobbies but not the true meaning of what we have in store for us in eternity.
Reconciliation is hard. Being made aware of something one has done wrong and you are willing to reconcile and give the peace is one thing but having the other party understand that you are truly sorry about an act or something said is the difficult part. Trying to be a true christian makes you first reconcile with God, seeking repentance and forgiveness, however, the challenge comes with the amount of hurt one inflicted on the other party and if they are willing to forgive you then and there. That person may have to come to terms with what has happened before being able o accept the olive branch. Many time we have turned the other cheek, but is this because we are trying to be true Christians or is it because we are afraid of identifying as Christians? Christians should not be afarid to be identified as one regardless of the circumstances we have found ourselves in and realize that it is a commitment to God in which we really sacrifice of ourselves.
I recently divorced. I struggled with my husband’s adultery against me, betrayal and long-term drug use that negatively impacted my family. I am currently struggling in the area of reconciliation, even though I know that I am so utterly sinful and that God loves me despite my sign. I want to forgive and be able to reconcile as God commands. But, it is so amazingly difficult to put this into practice. I have pride, and I know it. I feel like I’m the victim I guess.
Mandy – It is no surprise that the area of reconciliation is a significant difficulty at this time. It sounds like you have been through a lot. People may betray us, but God never will. May you find his healing going forward.
Thank you for blessing me! Just reconciled with my adult daughter after several weeks of her not speaking to me. It was painful for both of us, but as a mom, it ripped at my heart every day. I can only imagine God’s pain when we do the same to him.
Paula – May God give you and your daughter a new way forward. Great news.
I preached a sermon on verses 14,15. My sermon title was “It’s not about us, but it is about Jesus”.
verse 15 was my key verse “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again”(kjv)
Our ability to forgive and move on should be based upon what Jesus has done for us. He forgave us, we should be willing to forgive others.
Look at what the text says”they that henceforth live unto themselve, but unto him which died for them and rose again”
We owed a debt we could not pay. He payed a debt he did not owe.
We are trying to win souls. Catch fish. Not kill snakes. We are fishers of men. The Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons did not have the best relation on court back in the nineties. The Bulls neede a player who could get rebounds. The best in the league was Dennis Rodman of the Detroit Pistons. The Bulls put a side their diferences and singed him up.And guess what? They won championships. It was not about them, but the champoin ship.
In order to be a wittness for Jesus our attitudes, the way we live ,, must reflect,, Christ’s whole message to others…we must tell others through our attitude and life style that our life is a new gift from the one who was torchered and shed bloody sweat,, who loves us so much that HE cares what and who we become..He really loves us ,,even me too!! He really cares and thats all He wants us to do too..Our whole message to others is reconcileation..They look at us and know God is love,,There are a few things I am more aware of now!!
Thank you God For teaching me the importance of my reason for being a Christian.. In your name I pray Amen..
People are always watching Christians and we need to be vigilant in walking the TALK. There is so much pain in the world related to people not reconciling.
People do not see their need for God because all they remember hearing is “God is love.” Yes, He is love, but He is also holy. We, Christians are misunderstood by the world because the world cannot get beyond their own godhood. They prefer to point fingers at us and condemn us for our imperfect lives. When we stand up for what is right – like life for the unborn – they are quick to say we don’t care about women’s rights. When we stand up for traditional marriage, they are quick to condemn us as bigots. They don’t see their need for God because they don’t believe they have done anything wrong. It is hard to be perceived as loving when you are also trying to reveal to them their own sinfulness. In our relative world today, they don’t see sin as sin.
So it becomes so clear and true – that no one can come to God unless He first draws them. Unending gratitude I have, to my Creator for calling me.
The world doesn’t believe in absolutes anymore. They don’t believe in Heaven, Hell or sin. They believe their “works” will open Heaven’s gates for them. After all, isn’t that what we tell people, that God loves them (which is the truth). They don’t believe He is also Holy and jealous and will be true to His Word, sending them away from His presence into a Christless eternity. That just reinforces their belief that if there is a God, he doesn’t care and that we, His followers, are full of hate and are inflexible and narrow-minded. It’s a very fine line we must walk, staying true to the Gospel, no matter what the cost, allowing the world to see Jesus in us but not judging or condemning them for not knowing the Truth. We need His wisdom always and the power of the Holy Spirit to truly reach them.
First and foremost Thank you Jesus for saving my life and so many others who still think they are gods themselves. Keep up the good work. Amen
Yes, reconciliation is basic to our Faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross. We need to live the Christ like so that others will see Christ in us.
Your messages are hiting the nail on the head; keep proclaiming the Truth that Christ is indeed the only Savior of the World.
Earl
My thoughts that God my Father knows how to do things especially when it comes to bringing his people together loving and forgiving them.
My thoughts that God my Father knows how to do things especially when it comes to bringing his people together loving us and forgiving us in the highest he still loves us no matter what isn’t God awesome.
yes i think we have to be passionate about life and live it all the time no matter what is happen becasue we are lucky to be here on earth and need to live like that every day of our lifes.
I don’t think the world sees most Christians as people “passionate about peace & reconciliation.” Most Christians I know don’t seem to value those attitudes more than non-believers. Those of us who do highly esteem those attitudes are challenged by how difficult they are to actually maintain. Reconciliation may very well be the hardest thing in the world to achieve!
In response to “Jenny”: It IS “hard to be perceived as loving when you are also trying to reveal to them their own sinfulness.” That’s because it’s not our job as Christians to reveal the world’s sinfulness to them. That’s God’s job. When Christians start trying to CAUSE conviction in the lives of unbelievers, we are not being loving… we are being religious bullies. People instinctively sense the difference between real love & condemnation masquerading as a commitment to truth.
we bless the lord for the great work . un fortunately our attitudes don;t potray TITUS 1;16 brings clearly. the church has not played its duties as an agent of reconciliation , you find corruption. quarrells, dis unity , hatred etc
in that case they have failed to reach out to the world because their is no difference to prove that we are a new creation.
It would be so great if the Church was full of true Christ followers, but you know it’s not. There are atheists in church who come for the look and pageantry of it. Their heart is not into it, just meaningless motions.
There are mainly two types of Christ followers: Christians in deed, and Christians in title.
Those deeded are careful to be a positive epistle knowing that for many people we may be the only Bible they ever read, but trouble happens when the deeded fall and unfavorably show Christianity, and when the titled ones let their true colors out.
That sucks because those looking at us see the mockery they make and get turned off big time. What can you do, but make sure you’re in line at all times, and leave the others with God.
Oh I hope so Father. I so want to be a witness of peace and reconciliation. I try hard, but what I see is ME. What I want to feel is you. I want others to know that I behave in the spirit of peace and acceptance, because of you in me. Trying to love, as you do.
No small task. Help me Father. Help me be your witness in all I do and say.
As I see it, God loves is an awesome Love, Yes many of us would love to love, forgive and accept others who are different. But I think we all forget that he gave his only Begotten Son for for our sins and transgressions. He knows were weak and inherited this behavior from the beginning. We must never give up on trying to be thee best we can be and imitate our father in his likeness. Its hard no matter how much we try we’ll fall short of his glory but he understands and acespts us when we ask for forgiveness and guidance.
I just witnessed something within our church that really disappointed me and it will take some time to forgive those involved. I know that I will forgive them, but I saw a side I hadn’t seen before in people I called friends. My immediate reaction is to not trust them and withdraw from them. Being objective is the hardest thing when you serve a church and your church friends behave badly. I know that it has to do with my expectations for how I think a Christian should act. I know that I need step back from this situation, pray about it, asking God to soften my heart toward my friends. I appreciate reminders of the importance of reconciliation and forgiveness in our relationships. I feel humbled that God gives us grace and forgives us constantly and I know He made me to be a loving and grace-filled person. Boy! It is tough some days though!