A Ministry of Reconciliation
“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 counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 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.” (2 Corinthians 5:17–21, ESV)
Dear friends,
This past Sunday, we were reminded that it is our Lord and Savior’s purpose to preserve us in the faith. He saves and preserves us by reconciling us to himself, meaning that he restores us to right relationship with God. This Scripture then identifies us, whom God has preserved through reconciliation, as those “entrusted” with the message of reconciliation.
How are we called to walk alongside people this week, pointing them toward right relationship with God? What does this look like in the midst of a pandemic? A month from a presidential election? In your particular orbit of life? Remember, wherever we go we are indeed “ambassadors for Christ.”
God’s richest blessings,
Pastor John
Daily Scripture Readings, October 6 – 26
Tuesday, October 6
Isaiah 27:1-6
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Psalm 144
Wednesday, October 7
Song of Solomon 8:5-14
John 11:45-57
Psalm 144
Thursday, October 8
Isaiah 22:1-8a
1 Peter 5:1-5, 12-14
Psalm 23
Friday, October 9
Isaiah 22:8b-14
James 4:4-10
Psalm 23
Saturday, October 10
Isaiah 24:17-23
Mark 2:18-22
Psalm 23
Sunday, October 11
Isaiah 25:1-9
Psalm 23 (Used in worship)
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14 (Used in worship)
Monday, October 12
Exodus 19:7-20
Jude 17-25
Psalm 34
Tuesday, October 13
Amos 9:5-15
Philippians 3:13-4:1
Psalm 34
Wednesday, October 14
Song of Solomon 7:10-8:4
John 6:25-35
Psalm 34
Thursday, October 15
Judges 17:1-6
3 John 9-12
Psalm 96:1-13
Friday, October 16
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
1 Peter 5:1-5
Psalm 96:1-9 [10-13]
Saturday, October 17
Isaiah 14:3-11
Matthew 14:1-12
Psalm 96:1-9 [10-13]
Sunday, October 18
Isaiah 45:1-7
Psalm 96:1-9 (Used in worship)
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22 (Used in worship)
Monday, October 19
Daniel 3:1-19
Revelation 18:1-10, 19-20
Psalm 98
Tuesday, October 20
Daniel 3:19-30
Revelation 18:21-24
Psalm 98
Wednesday, October 21
Daniel 6:1-28
Matthew 17:22-27
Psalm 98
Thursday, October 22
Numbers 5:5-10
Titus 1:5-16
Psalm 1
Friday, October 23
Deuteronomy 9:25-10:5
Titus 2:7-8, 11-15
Psalm 1
Saturday, October 24
Proverbs 24:23-34
John 5:39-47
Psalm 1
Sunday, October 25
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46
Romans 3:19-28 (Used in worship)
John 8:31-36 (Used in worship)
Monday, October 26
Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 20-25
James 2:8-13
Psalm 119:41-48