Today’s readings: 2 Corinthians 5-7, Psalm 141
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 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.
Before I came to St. John, the congregation engaged the services of an intentional interim pastor. He used an acronym to challenge the people of the church: HSAYATKOG? How Serious Are You About The Kingdom Of God? He challenged them to set aside their personal preferences in favor of a kingdom vision and a commitment to the good of the body of Christ and the mission of God.
Since I wasn’t at St. John at the time, I don’t know whether he used this passage from 2 Corinthians 5. But he certainly could have, along with several others, including Jesus’ own words: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43–44).
It always amazes me when I hear Christians express unbridled selfishness without a second thought. It might be someone insisting that worship must be conducted according to their personal preferences, refusing to support a ministry because it doesn’t directly benefit them, or being unwilling to serve unless things are done their way. Such attitudes stop me in my tracks because they are so out of character with Christ and his calling to selfless love, willing service, and concern for the good of others.
But the motivation for such a lifestyle isn’t simply a desire to be great, even as Jesus describes it. It is founded on Jesus’ death for our sins and the new life he has given us by his grace. Christ died for all, Paul writes, “that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
The Gospel message isn’t only about pie in the sky in the sweet by and by!
We have been reconciled to God. He has provided a way for us to live in fellowship with himself and one another. The Gospel is also about the way the reign and rule of God show up here on earth as a foretaste of the life of the world to come.
Selfishness has no place in the Christian life. Neither do judgmentalism, immorality, dishonesty, or any other manner of sin. But grace, generosity, sacrifice, truthfulness, and genuine concern for our neighbors are beautiful adornments to a life redeemed by Christ.
Christ has reconciled us to God, not because we have lived that way, but so that we might live in the freedom of his grace. Having received such love, we are called to reflect it to one another and to the world around us, even as we look forward to the fullness of life in the world to come.
Follow the Word is a daily Bible reading and devotional ministry of St. John Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas.
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