Today's devotional
The problem with new things is that they eventually aren't new anymore. Today's new clothes are tomorrow's rummage sale items. Today's new car eventually becomes a worn-out clunker. New just doesn't stay new. But, there is one exception ...
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Imagine going to your closet every day and finding new clothes (this would especially excite most women!). At the end of the day, dirty, sweaty clothes are discarded, and brand new ones are available for the next day. Such as it is for those who are in Christ: every day is a fresh new beginning. Yesterday's failures are discarded; replaced with new opportunities and possibilities in the present day.
"Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
Credit where credit is due. Our Creator Father is the source of all. He made, so to speak, the new clothes that Christ has hung in our closet. Through Christ's sacrifice, our Father has been able to set aside our differences, and draw us to Himself. Having done so, He has committed to us the same work of reconciling lost people to Himself. As such, we are His ambassadors - representing Him by life and word in such a way as to appeal to those not of the family of God.
The word, "ambassador", is rich with meaning. An ambassador is a government representative in another land, favorably representing the laws and customs of the homeland. As His ambassadors, our citizenship and allegiance is with the government of God, as we live in this present age. Our mission is to favorably represent the standards and customs of the government to which we ultimately belong.
As new creatures in Christ, yesterday's failures yield to today's opportunities. Among those opportunities is the privileged status of serving as an ambassador; an agent of reconciliation for our Father. May He make an attractive and compelling appeal through you today.
©Steve Taylor, 2013
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Imagine going to your closet every day and finding new clothes (this would especially excite most women!). At the end of the day, dirty, sweaty clothes are discarded, and brand new ones are available for the next day. Such as it is for those who are in Christ: every day is a fresh new beginning. Yesterday's failures are discarded; replaced with new opportunities and possibilities in the present day.
"Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
Credit where credit is due. Our Creator Father is the source of all. He made, so to speak, the new clothes that Christ has hung in our closet. Through Christ's sacrifice, our Father has been able to set aside our differences, and draw us to Himself. Having done so, He has committed to us the same work of reconciling lost people to Himself. As such, we are His ambassadors - representing Him by life and word in such a way as to appeal to those not of the family of God.
The word, "ambassador", is rich with meaning. An ambassador is a government representative in another land, favorably representing the laws and customs of the homeland. As His ambassadors, our citizenship and allegiance is with the government of God, as we live in this present age. Our mission is to favorably represent the standards and customs of the government to which we ultimately belong.
As new creatures in Christ, yesterday's failures yield to today's opportunities. Among those opportunities is the privileged status of serving as an ambassador; an agent of reconciliation for our Father. May He make an attractive and compelling appeal through you today.
©Steve Taylor, 2013
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
posted by steve @ 8:31 AM
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