What do people see when they look at you? I am not talking about height, weight, clothes, or hair color. I am talking about the way you treat people, your gentleness, kindness, patience, faithfulness to Christ, and humility. We have seen that everyone who has been reconciled to God by Christ is a new creation — the old way of doing things has passed — but what does this look like?
First, we must understand reconciliation as the removal of a wall of hostility between two parties. Sin erects the wall, and God did his part to remove it when He sent Jesus who gave his life to pay the penalty for sin and then rose to life again. Reconciliation can only occur when both parties agree. Now it is up to each of us to accept his offer of reconciliation. Part of this acceptance is to adopt his ways. Only then does an individual or a group such as a church become this new creation with each day open to the hope and possibilities God has stored up for each one.
Next, God takes this a step farther by making the person who enters into his reconciliation the message of reconciliation. You might wonder how you can be that. It is in beholding the beauty of the Holy God that you begin to reflect what you find there to those around you. Yes, words of faithfulness must be spoken, but recall that often your actions speak so loudly that people cannot hear what you are saying. What do we find there?
The Bible calls the reconciled person an ambassador for God. The ambassador represents the one who sends him or her by accurately saying and doing only what the One who sent the ambassador embodies. YOU BECOME GOD’S BILLBOARD. YOU ARE HIS BEST ADVERTISEMENT TO THOSE AROUND YOU FOR THE MESSAGE YOU CLAIM TO BELIEVE!
A little further in his Second Letter to the Corinthians (7:1) Paul tells us, “Dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminated body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
This is not done by condemning, criticizing, and fearing people, but rather by speaking the truth in love, gentleness, kindness, patience, and humility. DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S HOLINESS.
Be holy! Reflect Jesus! Be beautiful! Be whole!
Donna
Tell the Next Generation 