Ministry Of Reconciliation

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 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. 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. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

The United States Ambassador to Vietnam had been an American pilot who was shot down over Vietnam. A press article called him “a walking billboard for reconciliation.” Pete Peterson realized years ago that God had not saved his life for him to live in anger. Because he believed this, he used the rest of his life and his position to make a difference by pushing for better safety standards for children in Vietnam.

We are all “Christ’s ambassadors.” Just as God sent Christ to reconcile us to Himself, we now have the ministry of “reconciliation.” Our message is that all can be redeemed in Christ before God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

In response to the reconciling love Jesus offers us, we can share that love with others. Let’s take our role seriously. Wherever God places us in this world, He can use us as walking billboards of reconciliation for Jesus Christ.

Good news kept silent is no news at all.

Our Daily Bread – August 16, 2014