Romans 5: 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
We are saved, by no thanks to ourselves, our lives were opened up to the gift of being reconciled with God. That reconciliation came, not at a time when we deserved it, not after we had done something to “win” it, it was not given as “payment” to some debt God had with us. It was quite the opposite actually. Our reconciliation came at a moment in human life when we deserved it the least. We, as a species, were enemies of God. Think of that for a few. We were enemies, yet God loved us so much that he still gave His Son to us. We were given the gift that leads to everlasting life, at a time when we deserved death. It is the ultimate show of love. As Paul points out, if we were reconciled by His death, how much more will we be saved through His life. It sounds like a simple truth in this day and age. Yet it is a simple truth, that while we want to enjoy and apply to our lives, we seem to have a problem extending to the lives of those around us. We want the gift, but we fail to see that it is a gift that we must pass on to those around us. We talked this weekend in service about who gets that gift, do we extend it to true Christians? What about the Christians that have lost their way? Maybe it is for the Christian that does every thing wrong……This is the mindset that gets us moving down the wrong path. The gift of God’s Son, is not for us, or them, or the haves, and not the have nots. No Christ’s love, His reconciliation, His compassion, and His forgiveness, is for the same group of people it was for the day He died on the cross. The enemies of God. Think about it. We have the gift, we are reconciled to God, We have Christ in our lives, and in our hearts. Why do we so often treat that as a gift that is to be kept in our circle? Why do we want to withhold it at times, because we feel like someone does not deserve it, or that they do not “mean” what they say. We were the very same people, in the very same situation not too long ago. God withholds his love from no one who will seek it, Christ offers His forgiveness, and Love to all who call on him. We must become Christ like in our outpouring of this fantastic gift. We must offer it to all, for if God can reconcile with a wretch like myself through the death and resurrection of His Son……well then I cannot think of one person on the face of this earth who does not deserve the opportunity, the chance, the love, the forgiveness, and the reconciliation, that comes when we kneel at the cross of Christ. Will you deny this gift to those around you, or will you spread it freely?
God Bless,
Brian Thetford
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www.thenewcovenantchurch.com
www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com
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