Tuesday, June 14th
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome PhD DSc DD
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God(2 Corinthians 5:20).
From the verse above, we see the Apostle Paul’s careful use of words. In verse eighteen, he said, “We (all of us) have been given the ministry of reconciliation.” Then he presses home the importance of this ministry of reconciliation, urging the Corinthian church to take the message to the world.
But Paul was after something else as well, which he communicates to them. After asseverating the importance of reconciling men to God, he went on to his next subject and says, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
When he said, “We are ambassadors for Christ,” he wasn’t referring to the whole church of Christ; rather, he was referring to himself and his companions who were with him such as Timothy, with whom he wrote this letter. He counselled the Corinthian church to be reconciled to God. The same people he had told to reconcile the world to God are now being told to be reconciled to God. Why?
It’s because they had not been living right. Therefore, he says to them, “Just as the Spirit has said, ‘go to the people of the world and reconcile them to God’, He’s also saying to you, repent and be reconciled to God.” This is important because as God’s people, we’re encouraged to be involved in the work of the ministry, to take the message of salvation to the unsaved and reconcile men to God. But while you’re at it, live a life that’s pleasing to the Lord.
Christianity is a call to righteousness and a walk in righteousness. Don’t live in sin. The Bible says sin shall not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14). Serve God in holiness and righteousness. Stay in the Word and practise your Christianity, regardless of the pressures. Live the life of a righteous person every day.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for imparting to me the nature of righteousness such that I’m able to live a righteous life. I walk in righteousness and produce works and fruits of righteousness. I’m a light in a dark world, lighting the paths of sinners that they may see and be ushered into the Kingdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study:
Ephesians 4:20-24
“But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
“Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Acts 4:32-5:1-11;
2 Chronicles 20-22
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
2 Corinthians 3:11-18;
Songs Of Solomon 7-8
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