Peacemaking
Daily Readings
12/06: Col. 1:9-23
12/07: Rom. 5:1-2
12/08: Rom. 5:8-11
12/09: Isa. 9:6-7
12/10: Isa. 11:1-10
12/11: Eph. 2:14-18
12/12: 2 Cor. 5:14-21
Devotion
2 Cor. 5:14-21
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
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. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ 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. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The beauty of reconciliation
I don’t cry often, but every once in a while a scene in a movie, book, or TV show, will move me to tears. I recently reflected on what it is about certain scenes that so grip me. I realized that there is a common thread throughout most of them: reconciliation.
I don’t think I’m alone. We all feel the power of true reconciliation. The beauty of it floods our emotions. When every barrier is stripped away and estranged family members are reunited, ex-friends are brought back together, and alienated lovers are reconciled. It fills us with awe and wonder when it is genuine. When weeping replaces saving face, forgiveness overcomes bitterness, openness and honesty are freed from the prison of deception, humility triumphs over pride, and relationships are restored.
The concept of reconciliation resonates with us so much for two reasons. First, because we all know the pain of alienation and ache for true reconciliation. And second, because we know how hard it is to achieve. Sin has alienated us from God and from each other and makes it impossible for us to bring about true reconciliation, but “what is impossible with man is possible with God” (Lk. 18:27). The incredible truth of the gospel is that through Jesus Christ we can be reconciled and at peace with God.
The way of peace
When Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) praises God and prophesies at the birth of his son, he talks about what God will do through the coming Messiah. He ends that prophesy like this: “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Jesus brings reconciliation and peace but he also leads us into the way of peace. Jesus, the ultimate peace-maker, makes us into peacemakers as well.
The way Paul puts it is, “God…has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” This tells us that the glorious truth of our restored relationship with God overflows into a ministry toward other people. The ministry we have been given is the ministry of reconciliation.
Ambassadors for Christ
Paul says that we are “ambassadors for Christ.” An ambassador is a citizen of one country living in another, and in that other country he represents his home country and has the authority to speak for it. As Christians in the world, we too live in a foreign country. We belong to another Kingdom and are to bring the message of that Kingdom to the world in which we live. The message our King has given us is the message of reconciliation. “We plead on Christ’s behalf: ‘Be reconciled to God.’”
We are to “plead.” This is not a mere suggestion, nor a mere command. Our ministry is to be marked with urgency, passion, joy, and longing because we have the greatest message in the world, the good news of the God who became a man to make peace between God and man.
Reflective Questions:
Am I practicing the ministry of reconciliation? How can I make reconciliation the aim of my work for God?
How do I serve and speak in such a way that I am dependent upon God to do it through me.
Is there any urgency and passion to my life and ministry?
How should our reconciliation to God effect our relationships and conflicts with other people?
Family Activity
Supplies: PIZZA
Reconciling people to Christ is our task, help children understand that as they get upset and fight about bedtime, screen time, siblings, housekeeping and anything else, that they can allow Christ to act as their peace maker. Talk to them in a quiet whisper, help them to identify what Christ would want them to do.
Buy a pizza and deliver it to the police station-police officers are under great stress during this time and it is their job to act as a peace keeper.
Clean their siblings room or do some extra help around the house. (taking out trash, doing dishes, cleaning the bathroom) by doing things for those that they oppose children can make peace.