Good Morning!
We received a nice rain. What a blessing. Everything will quickly turn green now!
Yesterday, we looked into the real problem in our relationship with our Father – you and I. Our sin distorts everything, so much so that it took Jesus to die on the cross to reconcile us with our true Father. Distortion is really not the proper way to veiw this. We were actually enemies of God.
That kind of changes things, doesn’t it? I mean, really, how can anyone have a truly loving relationship with an enemy? Yes, enemies may live in peace next to each other, but they aren’t reconciled. Lest anyone be confused, it’s worth noting scripture.
Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Do you see that? Enemies. Let’s take this a step further. Who is the enemy in this relationship? Is it God? What harm has he done? That leaves only one other answer – me. I am (was) the enemy, and I act like one.
Romans 8:7-8 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Let’s face it. Our true father/child relationship is way, way messed up because of our own doing. It is the child who is in rebellion, not the Father. Even so, the Father provides a solution, and, through it, our marching orders.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not countying their tresspasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconililiation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Long story short, my first order of business with my daugther is to deliver the message of reconiliation. There can be no peace anywhere in the universe apart from God. There can be no true love apart from God. Certainly, there can be no unconditional love apart from God. My daughter is looking for that – unconditional love. How could I possibly demonstrate it by not sharing the gospel?
Now, there is one problem to all this. Not everyone will be reconciled to God. Does that relieve me of my obligation? In no way. I haven’t yet solved my problem; I’m still defining it.
Father, keep this going. I trust you to lead me to your answer. Amen.
Copyright © 2018 Scott Powers