2 Corinthians 5: 17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Dear God,
You never change, in character or purpose, and the heavens and the worlds glorify You, as did this earth, when it was created new and perfect in every way. Now the earth and its people are not perfect! Instead it is polluted and marred by the sin that Satan introduced to earth, through Eve, then Adam. No longer does the creation on earth portray a perfect of image of its God.
Thank You that Christ came to earth to reconcile us to You, His Father as told in 2 Corinthians 5: 18 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In verse 19 of the same chapter, Paul tells us how closely Jesus was connected to His Father during His time here on earth, in the flesh of mankind, “…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…” We, Your children have been given a place in the work of reconciliation, when we allow Jesus to have our heart and to be used as given in the remainder of verse 19, “…and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” Paul and followers knew they were ambassadors for Christ, for he states in 2 Corinthians 5: 20 “….as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, to be reconciled to God.”
Please God, open my heart and mind, not only to receive You, but to be Your ambassador in the way you have planned for me. For I have read in Your word, that You have given us all different abilities and spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit. I am relieved that the Holy Spirit also provides our spiritual enabling when I (we) have been reconciled to You. Because of this spiritual enabling it is my plan to commit with all that I am, for how could I offer any less? Especially in the light of what Paul writes in v 21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
I praise Your blessed name, again for You have answered my sin problem and deep inner need to answer Your call and put away any divide between us that I have built by waywardness.
I give You my gratitude and love because I have been made new.
Amen