Pleading

2 Cor. 5:20 "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."

This is powerful stuff. You can almost feel Paul's heart. In v18 Paul said that God gave us the ministry of reconciliation. In v19 he said that God has committed to us the word of reconciliation. God has given us this ministry to serve in. He has made us His representatives. He has given us His voice...His very words and the urgency is palpable: "as though God were pleading", He is begging through us, "we implore you" for Jesus sake to be reconciled to God. The word for reconcile here is actually an accounting term, when you give money for something in return. It is an exchange. What is it? It is Jesus giving His life so that others can have eternal life in return. This is the ministry, the word of reconciliation. That Christ came and gave it all so we could have it all.

Reconcile is deeper than that however. It also means to be brought into favor with someone else. God cannot accept us because of our sin. There is a barrier there. The veil that Paul talked about earlier is blocking the way. This wall of separation has been taken away through the blood of Christ. It is torn down. It is gone and we can be brought near to God.

The point is, God has given me this ministry. God has given all of us who know Him this word of reconciliation. He has made me His representative to others. Paul begged. Paul implored. Paul pleaded with people to be brought near to God.

I have to ask myself the question: How much do I plead with people to come to Christ? How important is this to me? Who are those that I care about who need to be reconciled to God? We have this word. We have this ministry. God has entrusted this to us. What are we doing about it?

(By the way, if you are reading this blog and you can't say that you have a living, breathing relationship with the God of the universe through His Son, Jesus...let me encourage you, no...let me plead with to you let Jesus tear the wall down. This is literally the difference between eternal life with God and eternal separation from God. Please...be reconciled to God.)