Thursday, April 5, 2012

SOAP 04/05/2012; 2 Corinthians 5:20

Today's reading: Ruth 1,2; Psalms 53, 61; 2 Corinthians 5

S)"20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
 
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NASB)
 
O) If some one asked me to point to one verse that shows how to deliver the Gospel, this might be it. The whole purpose of spreading the gospel is to show people that their Father in heaven wants to have a relationship with them and that relationship is found through Jesus Christ. It's not about being a Christian, it's not about reading the Bible, it's not about going to church or paying tithes, it's not even about resisting temptations of sin. All of that will come, but it all comes through the first step - being brought back together with our Creator. When we are rejoined with our Father in heaven, then everything else will start to come together as we pursue to strengthen our relationship with Him.
  
A) This really needs to be the basis of all my ministry work or evangelism, ever. My life changed when I found freedom from various sins, my life changed when I started paying my tithes, my life changed over this last year when I started reading my Bible and journaling everyday. All of that, though, was only possible because my life changed when I was brought back to my Father. I think a lot of people might hesitate at the thought of serving God because they're uncertain or afraid of what they'll be asked to do, or whom they'll be asked to become. Whether they feel it as a pressure or as a threat, all of it is jumping the gun. The first, most important thing, is to be reconciled to the Father.
  
P) Father, being reconciled to You is the difference between life and death, growth and destruction, prosperity and ruin. I don't deserve the blessings You give, but they come nevertheless. Holy Spirit, help me to stay focused on my relationship, more than anything else. LORD, I want to become closer and closer with You, and understand You better and better. I want Your presence in my life to be visible to those around me, even to those far off. I want Your presence upon me to be palpable to those around me. Let them be blessed, just for being around me, so that Your name will be glorified. Let them see that it is the reconciliation that brings every form of blessing and positive change in my life, and it will in theirs as well. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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