Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 120-122; 2 Corinthians 5
Devotional Thought:
What an encouragement for the believer to know God has a new body that is fit for heaven just waiting for us. The older I get the more I realize that this body is temporary and it will wear out. Here, the apostle Paul reminds us that while we are living in this temporary body on earth, we are not present with the Lord. However, the moment we take our last breath, we are immediately ushered into the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. (vs. 8) Paul reminds the Christian that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (vs. 10) We are not working for our salvation, but we certainly should work because of our salvation. We acknowledged, at our salvation, that Jesus Christ was Lord to the glory of God the Father, and therefore, He is worthy of our praise and worship. As Christians, we should be motivated to serve the Lord because time is running out for the lost. Sin requires a payment! Either we accept the gift of salvation or we need to pay for sin ourselves. The payment of sin is death or separation from God. Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, Why has thou forsaken me?” It was incredible torment for Jesus to be separated from His Father as He bore the price of our sin. We must be faithfully serving the Lord, because time is running out for the lost. Paul also reminds us to serve the Lord because of the love of God. Paul said God’s love boxed him into a corner. He could not be selfish and live for himself when He thought of the price tag that Christ paid for him. So sad it is for Christians today to be so self centered that they do not live a life demonstrating appreciation for the sacrifice of Christ. “I love him because He first loved me.” Paul says we demonstrate that love for Christ by not living after the flesh, but after the spirit. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (vs. 17) Jesus Christ is the agent by which the believer is reconciled to God. Paul states, “…that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself…” (vs. 19) God “hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (vs. 21) At our salvation, we became complete in Christ, and it is in Christ that we stand today before God. We stand robed in His righteousness as Christ was made to be sin for us. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Are you helping sinners to be reconciled to God by introducing them to Jesus? As Christians, we have been given this ministry, and we must be faithful with it.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to be faithful with the ministry of reconciliation. I realize that Christ is the agent of reconciliation and I must be introducing people to Him.
• Lord, thank you for paying the price for my sin. I want to live for you and I need your help to not live after my flesh. I want to demonstrate my love for you in the way that I live.
• Lord, thank you for the promise of a new body immediately waiting for me in heaven when my journey on earth is done.