“God…gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV

Paul wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God” (vv. 17-20 NIV). Sometimes our first reaction to learning that a fellow believer has fallen is to rush to the phone and say, “Did you hear about?” Or point an accusing finger. Or distance ourselves from that person at the very time he or she needs our prayers, love, and support. The Bible says, “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’” (1 Peter 4:8 NKJV). If the hurting cannot find mercy in the family of God, where are they going to find it? Rather than join those who point accusing fingers, we should be known as those who extend a helping hand. Jesus did that with Simon Peter: “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32 NKJV). Just as God has repeatedly extended His grace to you when you have fallen short of the mark, He is calling you to extend that same grace to others.

The Word for You Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from Celebration Enterprises, Inc. Copyright © 2024