I believe I will take another look at this ministry all of us are in again. I have touched on this subject in previous blogs, but I want to do a fresh look at it again. I myself, have been wondering most of my life what is it that God wants me to do.
After I am this old, I finally find out I am a Priest, I have a Ministry, and I have been made an Ambassador to the world around me, my circle of influence. May God give me the time needed to fulfill this calling on my life. All of us read the Bible and see the words before our eyes, but most times it never leaves the page we are reading. It needs to get past our minds and touch our soul to be able to digest what we read.
We are a special people, the Bible calls us peculiar (1 Peter 2:8). I put the blame on the “Church” leaders who are supposed to teach us how to be representatives of Jesus. They are no different than each of us, they are called, so are we. They are human, so are we. Each person is called into the ministry, all of us, not just select ones. Really? Yes, just stick with me as we explore this mandate in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.
Verse 18 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” Who? God through Jesus. What? Reconciled us to Himself “God.” When? At the cross, death, and resurrection. Past, Present, and Future. Already been done! Where? On earth. Why? To redeem mankind to God. How? Grace.
Verse 19 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” Who? God. What? Reconciling the world. When? At the cross. Where? On earth. Why? To redeem mankind. How? God was in Christ and gave His life for the world.
Verse 20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ stead, be you reconciled to God.” Who? Us. What? Ambassadors. When? Now. Where? On earth. Why? God did it for us. How? He reconciled us.
What are these verses saying? God was in Jesus Christ while he walked the earth, and lived and died just like us. If we are born again, or grafted in the vine (Jesus) then we are Gods people here on this earth again, walking, living in us, just as He was in Jesus. He is alive in each of us who are believers. We have been reconciled to God, all we have to do is accept the terms of (which are unconditional) and reconcile ourselves to Him.
What do we have? We as believers have been given the ministry of reconciliation. We have the gospel of peace. We are to declare to those who know Him, and to those who do not know Him, that they are forgiven, and are now in the ministry of love. It is sad to find out after all these years that the gospel of peace is as simple as this,(you are forgiven of whatever you have done or will ever do). All we have to do is accept what God offers, (forgiveness and adoption of children, heir to the Kingdom).
Mr. Strong gives us the Greek meaning for reconciled as to change from enemy to friends, change of attitude, justified. He then gives this Greek meaning for reconciliation as a change on the part of one party, induced by the action of another.
We are Ambassadors. We are Ministers of Reconciliation. We don’t need any papers or license to be a minister, all we need is our name written in the Lambs Book of Life. When did all this happen? According to the Book, it has already been done. It is completed, all we do is accept what is offered. Verse 18: hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.
Mr. Webster says the word “hath” is the same as the word have. He then says the word “have” means to hold in possession as property to hold at ones disposal. To hold, own, or possess as ones own. Both words are in the present-past tense.
I hope this letter is easy to understand and you will change your thinking about what your purpose is on this earth. Once you are a believer, then this applies to you. You’re to bring the Good News that they are loved by God and forgiven, to those in your circle of influence. You may be called later into a bigger ministry, but your main purpose will always be the ministry of reconciliation.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is the good news that we are to share with everyone. So simple, yet so powerful if we can only grasp it ourselves. It requires us to realize that we are in the ministry as soon as we believe.
I guess I’ll close for now with this reminder as always, remember you will make it, just don’t give up. Stay in the race.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 