31 Days of Devotion, Day 25 by Carson Smith
Daily Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
As Christians, we often long to live a more impactful life for Christ and we try to work our hardest to accomplish this goal. Where we fall short and get discouraged is when we try to pursue this end in our own strength instead of through the power of the Holy Spirit. I would say the primary way the Holy Spirit gives us strength to love others well and exude the fruits of the Spirit is by pointing us to the beauty of Jesus Christ and the glory of what he has done for us.
In 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, we see a clear yet unique revelation of the gospel that will fill us up unto the praise of Christ Jesus and the pursuit of furthering the good news in all the earth.
1: Our deadness of heart. VS 16
“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.”
Before our conversion, we had no ability to see Jesus Christ for who he truly is. As Paul says we “once regarded Christ according to the flesh”. That is we only thought of him in a worldly way. As a liar or just a good moral example or as a crazy person. But we had no ability to know him to be God the Son and the savior of the world.
2: We are a new creation. VS 17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
But when we trust in Jesus Christ as the only forgiveness of sins and the only way to be reconciled to God, we are made into a completely new creation. We have been made alive in Christ. We have new senses that understand spiritual things. We have been given a new heart with new desires. We are completely new.
3: God made our Reconciliation. VS 18a
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself…”
This amazing salvation is not something that we have found or earned. While we were still in our sin, out of the overflow of his grace, he saved us through Christ! We have been reconciled to God. That means that our salvation is not just a forgiveness of sin but a reuniting with the glorious God that we were made to know, love, and treasure.
4: Christ bought our Reconciliation. VS 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.”
Our rebellion against God brought upon us eternal wrath and separation from God. We had no way to repay this debt. But God sent Christ to give up his perfect life and take the punishment of our sin upon himself and give us his perfect righteousness so that we can be made clean before God. This is an unfathomable sacrifice. This is Christ’s love for us.
5: We have been given the message of reconciliation. VS 18b-20
“…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.”
We have been given life and life abundant. Eternity to know, love, and treasure God. This is a gift of God not of our doing but only by his through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. There are billions of people all around the world who have no hope. People who are trying to find true life through the things of the world but are left empty. If we truly meditate on the magnitude of what God has done for us, then our hearts will be passionate for other people to know the salvation that’s available to them. So let us go, out of love for Christ let us go and be salt and light to the world!
Daily Prayer
Dear Lord, as we think about what it means to live as your ambassadors, we pray that your kingdom might come on earth as it is in heaven. Help us to live lives that reflect your reign and that disclose your priorities for this world. Amen.