December 20 – Day 21
2 Corinthians 5:6-21
So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you an opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
One Christmas my parents got me a gift I had not asked for, thought of or considered – a chemistry set. As I opened it, I was amazed! All these containers of chemicals and substances, test tubes and a book with a multitude of experiments I could try. There was one that when I added a certain chemical to the mixture I had made, this “snake” of material began to pour out of the test tube. What I had not thought of was that my parents knew of my inquisitive mind and wanted to foster that in me.
Today I want you to think about how God has placed people, situations, opportunities and the truth of His Word in your life to feed that desire to please Him. This is the natural reaction for the child of God because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Christ came to redeem you, but then also to change you and use you as an ambassador for the Kingdom of God. The incarnation and then the birth of Christ were the first faint cries of “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” John the Baptist was a herald crying loudly the same message. Jesus told those who would listen the same. And the message is now ours to continue to trumpet to the world. The birth of Christ with the death and resurrection would be an incomplete story. This Christmas let’s make it our aim to be inquisitive about how to please God, knowing the main way from our passage today is to remember, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
