The Love Of Christ

Urges Us On

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:12-21

Paul cut a new trail in his ministry. His aim was not to go where another man’s foundation had been laid, but to find a new way. Others followed him on that new trail, much as Americans did with the Louisiana Purchase and the expansion of the west.

Today that commitment, made by Paul, is seen in Jesus’ followers who take the message of the Savior to the uttermost parts of the world. As we pray today, ask for God’s blessing on His Word, as we cut a new trail in our generation.

God gave you a message to share; don’t keep it to yourself.

Our Daily Bread – July 11, 2009