NOVEMBER 29, 2021 READINGS... 2 Corinthians 2:5-6:13
When we are hurt and sinned against is there intention in our hearts to move toward forgiveness? The truth is if we have spent anytime in the church, we have been hurt by someone. What is also true is that we have hurt someone, in one way or another. It is impossible to live and serve together without someone letting us down, or hurting us…or we doing those things to others. There comes a time to forgive, and not only to forgive…but to actually comfort the one who let us down. It is easy to walk away and never offer forgiveness…and it is nearly impossible for us to go beyond forgiving someone, and actually comfort them. The Apostle Paul reminds us that it is part of the ministry of the church to forgive and comfort the person who has sinned, and repentant, and give them comfort. Let’s be honest…if we were the one who was guilty, we would hope the church would do that for us. Paul reminds us that we are to ministers of the New Covenant…think about it…the New Covenant is based upon the forgiveness of God through the sacrifice of His Son. Jesus died so that we could know forgiveness…we should live to offer forgiveness and restoration to one another.
Paul reminds us of the reality that these bodies that we dwell in for a little while are but tents. We are promised new and eternal bodies. When we Christians die physically we do not move into less and worse…we move into eternity where everything is more and better. God has put into each one of us the desire for life…even though we have the assurance of the wonderful glory of heaven. We are called by the apostle “ambassadors for Christ”. An ambassador does not speak for themselves, but for the one who sent them. The ambassadors of the United States speak for the President wherever he appoints them. We are called to be ambassadors for Jesus…and we are not to speak for ourselves, but we are to speak His words. We represent Him in this alien land in which we live. His words are to be our words…His priorities are to be priorities…His heart is to be our heart. Our main message is to be a message of reconciliation to a world that is at enmity with God…that being the message of the Gospel. Finally, Paul reminds us that we are to extend love even is that love is not returned…it is the way of God.
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.
TOMORROW’S READINGS… 2 Corinthians 6:14-10:18
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