Friends, I want to do an overview today of God’s Word to us from 2 Corinthians 5.  God generally works by instructing us on the Truth of our vertical relationship with Him, and then leads us to how that should affect our horizontal relationships with others.

2 Corinthians 5:6-9 – “We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.”

In 2 Corinthians 5, God tells us that while we are apart from Him, because of His love towards us, we make it our aim to please Him.  First question then to ask yourself – is your aim to please God or to please yourself or please others?

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 – “the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

Do you meditate on the love of God towards you?  Do you feel the weight of what it means for the infinite all-powerful, holy God to die the death for your sin, in your place?  Does the love of God compel you to die to yourself, and instead live for Christ?

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 – “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

If your aim is to please God, and if you are compelled by the love of God towards you, then here you go.  Your life will be a ministry of reconciliation.  Is your life marked by reconciliation?  Does the love of God compel you to not count others trespasses against you, and seek reconciliation if possible?  Does the love of God compel you to want to see others reconciled to God?

Christian, each day is a new day in the Lord and a new race to run.  We start each day with a choice to live according to what seems right to us, or to live in faith and follow after God.  Each day is a new day to allow the love of God to control how you live your life.  Each day is a new opportunity to give yourself to the ministry of reconciliation.  In all of these things we are dependent upon God and His grace, so run to Him knowing He is good and eager for our joy in following Him.  Know that you are loved and prayed for.

Grace and Peace,

Adam