The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (day four)

Verse 21 is the Heart of the Gospel!  “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

It was certainly not an even exchange…His righteousness for our unrighteousness.  We were the great beneficiaries.  Our lives were purchased by God.  As a result, we have a new responsibility to be an ambassador for Christ.  It is not an option…we don’t get to choose.  We have been bought with a price…His blood and His righteousness!

So what is the result or aftereffect of this exchange for us?  (Besides forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.)  Self-centeredness is gone, unforgiveness is gone, pridefulness is gone…anger, a judgmental spirit, lack of love, and more.  Our lives should begin to look like Christ’s–after all, we are bought.  Our unrighteousness gives way to His righteousness!  Can the world recognize that your life is no longer yours?

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (day three) 

“From now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.”  Did Jesus “network”?  Did the fledgling church scrape by without the ubiquitous pseudo-invitation “Let’s do lunch?”  Such pursuits can easily become a way to use people to serve an agenda.  We often insist on fueling a worldwide missional movement on ideas and vision, but Jesus taught us that our presence with each other is the church’s strength.  Jesus said, “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  This isn’t putting up with each other on the way to the dream.  It’s dreaming of living with one another.  The next time you wonder what God’s will is for your life, consider that you are God’s will for your brother’s life—and then act accordingly.

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (day two)

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. vs. 20

When I was a college student one of the ways I earned a scholarship was as a student ambassador. My job was to give campus tours to prospective students and their families. It was my job to learn a lot of information about my school so that I could answer questions should they come up. Part of what I did was to put the university in the best light and to share my love and personal experience with the school. We were never allowed to disparage another institution, but only speak well of ours.

We are Christ’ Ambassadors, and our role although similar, has much more at stake than a potential alma mater. Learn all you can. Spend time in prayer and the Word so that you are ready in season and out to give an account for your faith and the testimony of Christ’s work in your life. Draw people to you by your love for Jesus and for them, not your disdain for the world and its emptiness. Our hope has ever been for the world to be reconciled to God.

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (day one) 

“HAVING CONCLUDED this, that one died for all, therefore all died.”–v 14.

“But may it never be that I should boast (or place confidence) except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world was crucified to me, and I to the world.”–Galatians 6:14.

The Gospel was not presented in the first century in terms of “your best life, now”.  Without apology or hesitation the first preachers of our faith portrayed faith in terms of a death to one life and a resurrection to a new one.   The offer was a new life.  The cost was your old life.  All of it.

We came to a verdict/conclusion (Greek krino, decision or judgement), said Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:14.   The death of Christ means that all men were dead (already) and have lost the justification for continuing to be so.  Why stay on a sinking ship?

Time for a similar verdict from us all.

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day seven)

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”–v 7.

It is a Greek word that means “to shine out”.  The manifestation of the Spirit.  Given to each of us.  For the good of all of us.

One of my favorite FBCSA moments is Christmas Eve.  Candlelight service.  Darkened room.  Thousands of individual candles glowing brightly in that night of hope.  Sounds of “Silent Night” being sung out into a cruel and desperate world.  We are all together at that moment.  Small lights all.  Each of us contributing to the beauty and testimony.

I think Paul had something like this in mind as he described spiritual gifts.  The Holy Spirit in each of us shining out the message of God’s great, merciful, strong and trust-worthy Son.

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”–Matthew 5:16

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day five)

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

It is the brilliance and distinctiveness of God’s plan to use the church for His Glory and Purpose of building His Kingdom. God calls and gifts “each” of us and then works in “all” of us to build unity and effectiveness. One of God’s goals for the christian life is for each gifted believer to demonstrate that they have the Spirit of God within them. According to Paul, this is clearly evidenced in the Body of Christ.

In this passage has all the ingredients: sovereignty (11,18,24), diversity (4,5,6) and unity (11,12,13). It is a clear picture of a beautiful, vibrant New Testament Church.

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day four) 

One Spirit, many gifts.  Why has God given us all of these gifts?  Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation…God has placed all of these gifts in the body.  Are they for our own edification?  For our own pleasure?  For our own benefit?  No…they are for the benefit and edification of the whole church.  We are to use our gifts to serve others.  For a healthy church, you will see the members serving one another with tireless and self-less energy, using their God–given gifts to serve the body.

What gifts has God given you?  How has He equipped you to serve others?  Are you using your gifts to glorify God or to gain benefit for yourself?  Ask God to search your heart.  A healthy church is a serving church…serve others with your Spiritual gifts!  (1 Corinthians 13 tells us to use the right motivation for serving, too.)  Let’s grow our church!

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day three)

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

Paul’s purpose here is not to identify the Prophet! Teacher! Leader!  Rather, his point is that the church is a terrible place for heroics.  You want the prophecy gift?  Here it is: Prophecy means serving by never leaving somebody without God’s voice when that person has lost his way.  You want the leadership gift?  Here it goes: Leadership means channeling your influence to craft the kind of life together that allows people to grow to the full extent of their giftedness.  You want the guidance gift?  Here you are: Guidance means that you’ll never leave someone without forgiveness and friendship when that person has blown it again.  Gifts aren’t given in addition to love, but in order to love.

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day two)

And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” vs. 21

In all my years of being in choirs I have never led a group, nor been in a group where there were too many tenors. We are a commodity. As it is most groups make do with the ensemble that they get. This is the nature of the volunteer organization. If, however, one day 20 new tenors showed up to rehearsal, I doubt you would hear the altos leave in protest. Choirs don’t work that way. When you are in a choral group you submit to the concept that it takes more than one to make music. It is necessary to have different voices with different ranges to be able to create the music.

What is the message? Show up to choir and discover how to live out this scripture! Or, perhaps, marvel at the gifts God has given you, and submit his kingdom work. You will undoubtedly find how other gifting will complement yours, and you will see the music of God’s plan.