"So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ for a human point of view. How differently we know Him now!" (2 Corinthians 5:16 NLT)
I’ve logged a lot of hours in the junior high lately. Some days I struggle to see my students from God’s perspective. It’s tough to treasure them when they are disrespectful and defiant. I often squat down at their desk, look them in the eye and inform them: “I’m here for you. I want to help you.” I remind them and in the same breath, I reinforce my ‘why’ for serving in the school.
Junior High is a great place to remember that everyone has spiritual potential. No one is discounted from the love of God, no one is beyond His reach. We must hold to the belief that any person can be transformed by the presence of God through total surrender. We know this is true because we have experienced it firsthand! And amidst our personal transformation, we get to be an agent of invitation.
"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. And all this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God gave us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people's sins against hem. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NLT)
Of course I can’t shout “Come back to God!” in a public school setting, but I can quietly proclaim the essence of His message by loving others well. I can be an agent of reconciliation by showing up with with Jesus in my heart each and every day.
Rob preached it this morning as he closed out our Psalm 23 series. “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life.” This text assures us: God takes care of His own, but also, His sheep leave a trail as we make our way through this world. We can either leave behind the same stench as the rest of humanity, or we can impart the scent of heaven wherever we traipse.
Paul reminds us how we’ve received two gifts from God: reconciliation for ourselves and the message of reconciliation to extend to others. Christ has bought us back from hell, brought us back to Himself and entrusted us with the mission of reconciliation.
We are saved, recreated in Christ Jesus and given a divine directive. We get to carry this message of reconciliation and restoration out into a broken and bleeding world. The ministry entrusted to us is a blessing. My opportunity to love the students and staff at my school is a gift to be numbered and named: added to my thousands.
Why is it a gift? Before salvation we spent all our time and resources on self. After, we are included in the most significant undertaking the world will ever know. When we enlist in the reconciliation effort, our lives are imbued with meaning. We learn to live for something far greater than ourselves. We contribute to the most critical cause in the universe.
It is a gift to be taken in to the salvation plan for humanity, both as recipient and participant. Our happy contribution is a gift we give back to our loving God. A heart, body and strength devoted to His mission surely thrills Him. We are blessed to give ourselves over to King and Kingdom.
"A gift opens the way, and ushers the giver into the presence of great." (Proverbs 18:16 NIV)
Lord, You have been so kind to us, pursing us with grace, giving salvation, including us in Your reconciliation efforts. Today we see all this with meaning and purpose. May we receive Your gift with gratitude instead of obligation, with far more joy than duty. You have reformed our lives with divine purpose: help us delight in Your designs rather than grousing about the details. It is a privilege to carry out a Kingdom task at any level. Help us hold this perspective even as we serve in humbling conditions. Amen.