God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19 NABRE
Paul is speaking to the community at Corinth about Christ becoming human. Christ entered into humanity to make all things thing’s new. God sent His Son to reconcile, to restore, all people to Himself. God does not consider wrong doing or trespasses against us. God wants us to know we are loved and that God will do anything to remain close to us. God’s love is so complete that He holds nothing against His creation. God might have chosen any number of ways to reconcile with humanity but wanted to do it in such a way that we would be convinced of His love and the restoration of our relationship. So He endured the cross, despising its shame, for the sake of the joy that lay before him. (cf. Hebrews 12:2) The joy before Him is the love we offer when we are in right relationship with God. God does all the work to reconcile, He sends Christ to make a new creation through resurrection. All things are resurrected, the righteous restored to God. Once reconciled we are called to live and share the message of reconciliation. God depends on us to be forgiving, it is the message of Jesus, forgive as we are forgiven. By forgiving we provide hope for others to find their way to God’s reconciling.
It is challenging to live a life of forgiveness, but we must. We never grow or change into the beautiful creature God intended us to be if we hold on to hurts and hates. God forgives unceasingly and so should we. God also forgets and so should we.
Do you expect the other to seek forgiveness before you reconcile? Do you expect fairness or do you reach out with mercy?
It is challenging to live a life of forgiveness, but we must. We never grow or change into the beautiful creature God intended us to be. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybibleverse@YouVersion#BeAnEncourager#reconcile#forgive#Paul#everybodyalways#god#jesuschrist#jesussaves#godisgood#dailydevotion#biblestudy#scripture#bibleverse#verseoftheday#pray#prayer#goodnews#loveeachother#godisgreat#thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways