Thought for 16 January

 2 Corinthians 5:19-20

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.

And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.  We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you.  We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, “Be reconciled to God”.

Although the message in today’s reading is pertinent at any time of the year, it is particularly relevant at the beginning of the year when many of us take a step back and consider aspects of our lives that we may care to change.

Two words caught my eye from this passage, and these were ‘reconciliation’ and ‘ambassadors’.  We normally see reconciliation used in situations where a marriage has been going through some difficulties and the hope is that the couple will be able to resolve their issues and heal the rift in their relationship.

An ambassador is usually an important person that might represent an important company, organisation, business, sport or maybe even a country in a positive manner, fostering good relationships with others. A good ambassador cares about bringing people, businesses or countries together, while remaining loyal to the organisation represented.  It takes skills as a negotiator, a certain amount of expertise and integrity to be a good ambassador.

Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people frequently rebelled against God and disobeyed the rules for living he had put in place despite the miraculous interventions that had occurred during these times.  The word reconciliation means things like; to restore harmony, make peaceful, patch up, repair and smooth out.  God put in place a once and for all means of restoring the relationship between God and all men and women, (not only the Jewish people) by making reconciliation accessible through Jesus, his only son.

This is the message we are to share, as ambassadors, each in our own way once we, ourselves have made peace and are reconciled with God through Jesus.

Prayer – Loving God, you have reconciled us in Christ Jesus and have given us the ministry of reconciliation.  We pray for all those from whom we are estranged.  Bring healing to strained or broken relationships.  Forgive us for the times we have wronged others, whether by ignorance, neglect, or intention.  Grant us the courage and the grace to seek their forgiveness and the opportunity to make amends.  Where others have wronged us, grant us a gracious spirit, that we might forgive, even as we have been forgiven in Jesus Christ. Amen.