Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Lent: A Time of Reconciliation
Prijo Thomas
St. Andew's MTC, NY
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God.
At my previous employer, management constantly emphasized
the need for each of us to be “risk managers”. As complex and detailed as the
day-to-day work seemed at times, that title helped simplify the overall
objective, because our goal was basically to mitigate risk by making sure that
what happened in “the real world” was reflected accurately in our internal
records (and if it wasn’t right, figuring out what happened and then fixing
it--I definitely don’t miss that!); we were reconcilers. Similarly, our actual
lives did not match the standard of what a most Holy God required. We were the
problem and left to our own attempts, failure was guaranteed. This risk was too
great, and His love too extravagant to allow the work of His own hands to
remain helpless and banished to eternal separation from Himself, so He finished
the work of reconciliation.
When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are born
again into a right relationship with God who “through Christ[‘s death and resurrection],
reconciled us to himself.” How deep the love of a Father who “for our sake made
him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness
of God.” But it doesn’t end there; having been rescued from death by grace, we are
called, or rather “compelled”, to be His ambassadors carrying this word of
reconciliation which is inside of us. Therefore, the focus of Lent should not
be to just sit in our homes praying and fasting, but having done so, the result
should be an unrelenting compulsion to be reconciled to our friends, family,
neighbors, and enemies. In Christ, God reconciled us to Himself so that we may
enjoy Him forever, but He also entrusted us with this precious message because
our broken world needs to know its Savior.
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God.
Looking up, they saw the world around them like never before. With the
sweet taste of that forbidden fruit still resonating on their lips and the
juices still dripping from their hands, they turned towards each other and were
startled by a strange realization that dawned upon them--there was something to
hide, and someone to hide from. The physical nakedness that Adam & Eve
recognized that day in the Garden, and the subsequent hiding that ensued,
reflects how all of humanity has been running from our Maker since that fateful
moment. The Gospel is the story of reconciliation, of God pursuing man and
restoring the bond which was broken, so that we could once again become friends
of God.At my previous employer, management constantly emphasized the need for each of us to be “risk managers”. As complex and detailed as the day-to-day work seemed at times, that title helped simplify the overall objective, because our goal was basically to mitigate risk by making sure that what happened in “the real world” was reflected accurately in our internal records (and if it wasn’t right, figuring out what happened and then fixing it--I definitely don’t miss that!); we were reconcilers. Similarly, our actual lives did not match the standard of what a most Holy God required. We were the problem and left to our own attempts, failure was guaranteed. This risk was too great, and His love too extravagant to allow the work of His own hands to remain helpless and banished to eternal separation from Himself, so He finished the work of reconciliation.
When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are born again into a right relationship with God who “through Christ[‘s death and resurrection], reconciled us to himself.” How deep the love of a Father who “for our sake made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” But it doesn’t end there; having been rescued from death by grace, we are called, or rather “compelled”, to be His ambassadors carrying this word of reconciliation which is inside of us. Therefore, the focus of Lent should not be to just sit in our homes praying and fasting, but having done so, the result should be an unrelenting compulsion to be reconciled to our friends, family, neighbors, and enemies. In Christ, God reconciled us to Himself so that we may enjoy Him forever, but He also entrusted us with this precious message because our broken world needs to know its Savior.
PRAYER
Lord we thank you for freely reconciling us to You, and for the price You paid in doing so. Help us to carry this message of reconciliation to a dying world. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The work of reconciliation He committed to His Son—the word of reconciliation He has committed to us." -Charles Spurgeon
The work of reconciliation He committed to His Son—the word of reconciliation He has committed to us." -Charles Spurgeon