Spend time in prayer and silence with God, asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
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. So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 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 men’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 5:14-21
Devotion
Paul clearly states that the motivation for his ministry was the love of Christ! This should always be at the heart of what we do for Christ. Paul then defines his ministry as “the ministry of reconciliation.” As a believer, we have the privilege of being involved in God’s plan for reconciling the world to Himself. We are Christ’s ambassadors! He is making His appeal through us! Paul goes on to say that we have also been entrusted with the “message of reconciliation.” We have the high honor and calling of sharing the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus to a world that is alienated from God. God is holy and just and demands righteousness. When we put our faith in the finished work and person of Christ, His righteousness is credited to our account.
The Big Question
Are you a new creation in Christ? How is your life changing as a result of trusting Christ for your salvation? Are you a good steward of the “ministry and message” of reconciliation? What motivates you to be an ambassador for Christ? How does your love for Jesus show?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.