Ambassadors

Want to know the secret to having courage to share God’s love with others?

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh…Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, NASB

The more we understand the great cost Jesus paid to make us right with God… The more we grasp the result of His sacrifice… the more we are compelled by a mighty force… 

The love of Christ

Abba God, thank you for the love of Christ. Have your way in me today. Soften my heart as I lean in to learn from You. Teach me the depth of Jesus’ love. Move me with that love – compel me to be a more focused ambassador for Christ, reconciling others to you. Help those of us who struggle to sit still, to learn how to meditate on the powerful truths in this passage. Help those of us who are afraid to grasp – and focus on – your perfect love which casts out fear. Open doors for us to share our story with others. Speak through us so others can know your great love. Give us eyes to see all believers as new creations; unify us as one Body of Christ, which we are. Give us courage to love each other more as the days continue. Fill us with a deep insatiable desire to love and serve, using the tools you have given us. Show us as individuals what you want us to do. We are listening, Abba, and we want to please you because you gave us ALL the good we have and know. We are nothing – we have nothing – apart from you. In Jesus’ name.

Crazy Times

Today's culture. Media. Does it excite you? Make you cringe? Anxious? Mad? Scared? Tempted to spew your view?

Have you stopped to think how we are to react in these times? (It's not so different from Paul's day.)

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.... Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:14-15, 17-18, 21 NIV 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” - 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NASB

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23 NASB

“Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,” - 2 Corinthians 5:18 NASB (See verses 19-20 also)

Love.           Reconcile.            Prayer.            Share Jesus.            Help the weak.            Humble yourselves.           Love your enemy.            Forgive.            Pray for their salvation.           Trust God.

Father God, thank You for unmerited favor!!!! Give us wisdom & humility so we can be shrewd & gentle in these crazy days. Convict us if we have any unhealthy attitude or sin in us. Help us develop a grateful mindset, focused on what's good. Help us believe that prayer is powerful. Grow Your fruit in us! Love boldly through us! Father, speak truth and grace through us to people in our networks. Give us opportunities & compel us to share Jesus. How will they know if we don't share? Don't let us forget who we were before Jesus saved us. Don't let us get sucked into emotional bondage or verbal wars that aren't beneficial. There is much work to be done! Show me what You want me to do to spread the hope and promise of Jesus - for all who believe & follow Him. In Jesus' name! 

Pursue Love! (1)

Abba God, I don't really want to write this next series. I don't feel prepared. I don't have a plan I'm comfortable with. I don't feel like I have anything much to offer, but THAT'S OK. You love me as I am. Where I am. Somehow You take all my falls, scrapes, and messes and - joyfully - make something really beautiful from them. Just like the widow's mite, You can take our little gifts - all we have to offer back to You - and do something bigger than we can imagine with them. You are the only source of good, and I'm so thankful that YOU can work all things together for the good of those who love You and are called according to your purpose. May You be glorified. May your peace and grace be strong in our hearts.  Thanks for your peace.  

A few themes have been popping up:

• God is faithful - always. We trust; He finishes what He started.
• Hope. Not only for eternal life, but for abundant life while waiting to go Home.
• Love. We, the church, need to LOVE (not condemn OR grumble). 

One particular email struck me with a sense of urgency this morning. The message?
 
Love.
 
“Let this be the year that we pursue love... that we stop talking about love, that we do less regretful moaning... and actually be determined to love more the way Jesus loved (John 15:12). Let this be the year we actually put into place some strategies to help us love..."

"But let’s also be clear: making love our aim will demand more courage and faith than any other resolution we can make. Nothing exposes the depth of our sin like really seeking to love God with our entire being and loving our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27)."  

Oh, Abba, please enable us and strengthen our resolve to love... because of the grace and mercy which You've so freely given us. Free those who are believers yet seem "stuck" in the sins of complaints, grumbling, and pointing fingers. Abba help us all to live an abundant life with grace that overflows to those around them.  May those who don't know You see that we are Christians because of how well we love. In Jesus' name...

Proclaim His excellencies!

This morning, I was reminded of Haman (you know, the bad guy in Queen Esther’s story). Do you remember