Every Believer’s Calling – The Ministry of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:18 –20 – Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the Word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Friend, apart from the fivefold ministry of the apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists and teachers, there is a ministry that every believer is called into; that is the ministry of reconciliation. We are saved to be saviours. God has given us all the assignment to reconcile the world back to Him. Most people think that God is mad at them but this is not the case. A lot of people think that God is keeping record of their sins and that He is waiting for an appropriate time to punish and destroy them. In some cases, people got the message of the Kingdom on a platter of condemnation and judgment of an angry God. While I am not saying that God loves sin or that we should tolerate sin, I am saying that God loves the sinner but hates his sin because sin causes a separation between the sinner and God. Therefore, He made a remedy by erasing sin and put the punishment we deserved onto His son and procured total salvation for all of us. Glory to God!

Our ministry is to go out and tell this story to people, to paint the right picture of God on the canvas of people’s soul. God is not the one that left man; it was man that left God. God did not break up His relationship with man; it was man that broke his relationship with God. This ‘enmity’ between man and God is one-sided. Man chose to become the enemy of God but God remained faithful and found a way to reconnect with man. It is therefore, every believer’s ministry to reconcile people back to God by telling them that God is not mad at them and that He is not holding their sins against them. We are to make them see the provision of salvation set on the platter of mercy and grace and not on the platter of judgement and condemnation.

This is the reason why we are called the light and salt of the earth. We are to give the world divine guidance and stop the decay that is in it. The reason why God left us on the earth after our salvation is so that we can spread the good news and help as many people as possible to enter into this great and new life that God has provided for them. A major purpose of our salvation would be defeated if we don’t impact our world with the message of Christ. While we are not of this world, we are sent into the world to make disciples. Therefore, let’s get going about our Father’s business; let’s enter into our role as peacemakers between the world and God.

For Further Study

John 3:16-17, Romans 6:23

 

Personal declaration for the day

As I am a minister of reconciliation, today, I will be a good steward of God’s good news to everyone I meet.

Questions for you to reflect on

Are you aware that you have the ministry of reconciliation?

Are you aware that the ministry of reconciliation is for all believers and that there are no exceptions?

When do you intend to answer the call of God?