As we progress through life, one of our most common questions is…What am I going to be when I grow up?
And it may well be that one of our most common question as we mature spiritually is…What am I going to be when I grown up? We may not ask the question like this in spiritual terms, but instead it may sound like: I wonder what my gifts are? How is God going to use me? What is my ministry?
These are all legitimate and good questions, because every believer is filled with the Holy Spirit for unique purposes and with unique abilities. However, there is a common purpose every believer shares throughout the global church and with those Christians who are part of the same local church family.
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul speaks to the nature of our individual and collective ministry as believers. At the heart of our “spiritual job description” is the word RECONCILIATION. Reconciliation can be understood as the restoration, or “bringing back together” of two (or more) parties who were estranged from one another.
“…through Christ [God] reconciled us to himself…” (2 Cor 5:18)
Such sweet news to the wayward! Through the work of Christ, God has brought us back into fellowship and relationship with him…there is no more strife and enmity…hostility has been exchanged for harmony! Praise God!
Reconciliation isn’t only a beautiful way to describe our own salvation, but this same text actually helps us answer the question “What is my ministry?”
“…through Christ [God] has reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor 5:19-20)
It is a marvelous work of grace that God reconciled us to Himself! It is “grace upon grace” that God also GAVE US the ministry of reconciliation and ENTRUSTED TO US the message of reconciliation.
We are representatives of reconciliation…what has been done for us (to us) we now declare! You may not work in an embassy, but you are an ambassador for the King of Reconciliation! God is making an appeal through us, to the nations, to our neighbors, to our co-workers, to people he places in our path...”BE RECONCILED”!
As pastors, we are asking everyone to spend 30 minutes a day this week praying through the daily content we provide, which will all be focused on our COMMISSION to make Jesus known in our world. Below are some questions to consider and pray through:
What words in these verses should give us a sense of “urgency”? PRAYER: Ask the Lord for help to walk with biblical urgency in this ministry of reconciliation.
How do 2 Corinthians 5:19,21 help us understand the content of the “MESSAGE” of reconciliation? PRAYER: Pray for boldness to speak clearly about Jesus as the source of reconciliation for all men.
Who are three people God wants you to consistently pray for this week who don’t know Jesus? PRAYER: Take time to pray for them and for opportunities to share Jesus with them.
