Verse of the Day 9/18
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. English Standard Version (ESV)
As I read 2 Corinthians 5 the other day in may devotions, two words caught my attention, strong words that may not often be used in today's society where everyone has "a right to do their own thing" and not to be told differently. Sometimes it is the case, but there are times when someone needs to be told about something, to do or not to do it.
In verse 14 Paul writes that the love of Christ "compels us", it controls us, presses; pressures us into action. We have to decide whether or not to comply with His promptings or let the opportunity pass. A. W. Tozer writes, "Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will be judged not by how much I have done but by how much I could have done. In God's sight my giving is measured not by how much I have given but by how much I could have given and how much I had left after I made my gift. The needs of the world and my total ability to minister to those needs decide the worth of my service." When reading those words we would normally think of monetary giving, which is true. But it also involves our giving in service in how Christ compels us to give of our time.
The second word that caught my attention was in verse 20 where Paul says "we implore you" to be reconciled to God. The verse begins by reminding us that we are Christ's ambassadors, He is making this kind of appeal through us and His life, His example should compel us to do so. This may involve sharing the gospel, the good news to someone who doesn't know Christ as their Savior. It can also involve imploring, begging someone else to return to Him, to return to the fold.
To whom may we be an ambassador of Christ today? I'm reminded of the song by Casting Crowns, "Jesus Friend of Sinners" which calls us to "let our hearts be led by mercy" to "reach with open hearts and open doors".
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
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