Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
February 16, 2024
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
16 So then, from this point on we won’t recognize people by human standards. Even though we used to know Christ by human standards, that isn’t how we know him now. 17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived! 18 All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 In other words, God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ, by not counting people’s sins against them. He has trusted us with this message of reconciliation. 20 So we are ambassadors who represent Christ. God is negotiating with you through us. We beg you as Christ’s representatives, “Be reconciled to God!” 21 God caused the one who didn’t know sin to be sin for our sake so that through him we could become the righteousness of God.
Good Morning! Be Reconciled to God!
Even though we used to know Christ by human standards, that isn’t how we know him now.
This takes me back to Sunday’s Gospel on the transfiguration. Christ put on the clothing of human existence for a while, but then we could suddenly see what was beneath his temporary covering.
As I think of this passage, I am transported to the story of Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery. They assumed they would never see him again. On their next encounter, they didn’t recognize their brother, who stood before them. They only saw his outer clothing that identified him as a member of Pharoah’s command.
When he revealed himself to them, they were afraid because they knew what they had done and expected retribution for their actions. Instead, Joseph welcomed them and shared what he had with them: he saved them from their own selfish ways.
God sent us Jesus to save us from ourselves. In response to this gift, we are to reveal Christ to the world so that those in darkness might also be saved. By the grace of God, all have the opportunity to be saved. We must choose to be reconciled with our Creator. Thanks be to God.
Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. We struggle to see the good in others, especially those who do not look or act as we do. You ask us to be Christ for the world. Help us! We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Look for Jesus as eagerly as he looks for us.
Look into the soul of those you see! Pastor Liz