As Christian we are Children of the most high, The Bride of Christ, His Beloved, His Redeemed, Friends of God, Lovers of God, Rescued and so much more. God has came in the form of the man, Jesus, 2000 years ago, to live a sinless and perfect life in Obedience to God the Father, that he might die a humiliating death on the cross, from which wood he created and was spit upon by man whom he created and was holding together at that very moment. That on that cross he might take All of Our sin and shame and rise again on the third day to prove he had defeated Death and was the author of Salvation. That now we who trust in Him should not die but live forever more with Him!!
So we claim these things as truth. That God was the reconciler of the rebellious even when they didn’t was him.
Col 1:19-23 “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
O what a Great God we have that even though we were Hostile towards Him he brought us into His home to be His Children! Have you ever had anyone blow up with hostility towards you? I know I have and I didn’t exactly overflow or even feel remotely love towards them. But if only I would seen it from Gods perspective that All are or were once hostile towards Him then my love would flow towards them. When I meditate on this what he has done for me I can help but share!
2Co 5:11-19 “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 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. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 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. “
My Point is that now since we have been reconciled to God He has given us this ministry. Every Christian is entrusted with this ministry! Meditate on what he has done. Do you truly believe it? If you do you will share is. Let the Love of God control you and compel you!!
God has been convicting me more and more about this. Thru not only witnessing but also restoring sinning brothers if you will read my note on Confrontation it will explain it more. See my generation makes fun of “track boomers” and people who stand out with signs, yet we do nothing ourselves. Who are to judge them if we aren’t doing anything ourselves? I do agree that just passing out tracks to get it out there is missing the point of the person and letting love compel us. But let’s look at Jesus:
1.) With the woman at the well he took time to talk and know where she was coming from, cross cultural barriers and dialogue with her. John 4
2.) He Spent time with “Sinners” eating and drink and sharing the truth. Imagine if we got this idea that Jesus had of not only talking with unbelievers but eating and building relationships with them. He also wasn’t afraid of his reputation because of the accusations of the Pharisees towards him. Jesus came for the sinner not the righteous. Matt. 11:19
3.) Also one of the keys of church leaders in the book of Titus was Hospitality which is inviting unbelievers into your house. Also in Romans 12:13, Hebrew 13:2, 1 Peter 4:9
4.) Jesus shows us continuously about his love and patience with all of the people around them. He told the truth even when it diminished the crowd. John 6:53
So my challenge to you is this Be Intentional in your witness and love of non-believers, find a group or talk with your group of fellow believers to keep each other accountable and spur each other on. This is something I need desperately more and I hope you will wrestle with it in your heart and pray and search the scriptures of how God can use you. We need to be compelled by His love and desire to reconcile others to the God he love and claim as Truth!! Let the Love of God Compel you to Him and him ministry of Reconciliation!!
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