gods gospel

DEAR GOD: Help Us With Our Journey as Ambassadors for Christ

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Ambassadors for Christ – Druid Hills United Methodist Church

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” –2 Corinthians 5:19-20

 

This beautiful passage from 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 encapsulates the essence of our Christian calling: reconciliation and ambassadorship. It reminds us of the profound love God has shown through Christ and the responsibility He has entrusted to us as His representatives.

Heartfelt Analysis: God’s act of reconciliation is the ultimate expression of love. Through Christ, God bridged the gap between humanity and Himself, not counting our sins against us. This divine grace is an invitation to all to return to Him, a testament to His boundless mercy and forgiveness. As Christians, we are called to embrace this love and extend it to others. By understanding that God does not hold our past against us, we can live in the freedom of His forgiveness and share this liberating truth with the world.

Loving God and Committing Ourselves to the LORD: To love God is to recognize His love for us. It is to be in awe of His sacrifice and to respond with a heart full of gratitude. Loving God involves daily commitment, surrender, and trust. It means prioritizing our relationship with Him, spending time in prayer, worship, and studying His Word. This commitment transforms our lives, guiding our actions and interactions with others.

As ambassadors for Christ, our lives should reflect His love and truth. We are His representatives, tasked with sharing the message of reconciliation. This involves more than just words; it requires living out the principles of Christ in our daily lives—showing kindness, patience, and compassion, and standing for justice and truth.

Reflective Questions:

  • How have I experienced God’s reconciliation in my life?
  • In what ways can I better commit myself to loving God daily?
  • How can I be a more effective ambassador for Christ in my community?

Moral Takeaway Thoughts: Being an ambassador for Christ is a high calling. It is a commitment to live in a way that honors God and reflects His love to the world. By embracing God’s reconciliation and extending it to others, we fulfill our role as His representatives.

Supportive Scripture:

  • John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
  • Matthew 5:14-16: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Personal Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your incredible love and the gift of reconciliation through Christ. Help me to fully embrace Your forgiveness and live in the freedom it brings. Strengthen my commitment to You and guide my steps as I seek to love You more each day. Equip me to be a faithful ambassador for Christ, sharing Your love and truth with those around me. Let my life be a reflection of Your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Blessings and Scripture to Meditate On: May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Today, meditate on Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

May you walk in the assurance of God’s unfailing love and be a beacon of His light to the world.

Blessings to you all~

Ambassador For Christ

DEAR GOD: Your Word Is Locked In My Heart~

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His Word Our Hearts | Driving Thought

The Steadfast Love of Christ

 In the depths of despair, where hope seems but a distant flicker, the words of Psalm 69:14 resonate with a profound truth: “Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.” This cry for deliverance is not just a plea for physical salvation; it is a testament to the enduring love of Christ that reaches even the darkest corners of our existence.

When we lock the Word into our mind, heart and soul – we then can unlock things through Christ – and Him alone. His Word is a balm for our souls and a love feast for our entire lives.

Moral Compass

The moral compass guided by Christ’s love points us towards compassion, forgiveness, and unwavering kindness. It challenges us to ask ourselves: How do we emulate Christ’s love in our daily interactions? Are we quick to judge, or do we extend a hand of grace as He does?

Prayerful Introspection

“Oh, Sweet Lord- Jesus, in the midst of our trials, remind us of Your unfailing love. Help us to embody Your compassion and to seek Your wisdom in all things. May our hearts be anchored in Your grace always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Reflective Questions

  • How can we show Christ-like love to those who oppose us?
  • In what ways can we draw strength from Christ’s love during times of personal struggle?

Closing Moral Thoughts

As we ponder Psalm 69:14, let us remember that Christ’s love is not passive; it is active and transformative. It calls us to rise above our circumstances, to love without reservation, and to live with a heart full of grace. May this verse inspire all of us to reflect on the depth of Christ’s love and locking the Word into our hearts and how it shapes our moral journey.

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May we all meditate and ponder this verse and the significance of the boundless love that Christ offers and how it can guide us through life’s tumultuous waters – all the days of our lives here on earth!🕊️

DEAR GOD: Your Word Touches Hearts~

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In Praise of Main Points | Jordan Mark Stone

Have you ever found when you quote a passage or verse from God’s Holy Word, that more often than not it seems to “startle” an individual one way or another?  That is to say in my personal experience and encounters, when I offer up a quote that is germane to the conversation in which we are having, the person will immediately react!  How do they react? It depends on the circumstances of course, but they all share one thing in common, they all “pause” and reflect before responding.

For example, last week an individual was hurting and sobbing openly about someone they love who is probably at the end of their time on earth. I offered up this very important verse of truth and wisdom from the LORD from Luke 23:43–And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The person stopped sobbing and said, “do you really think so?” I replied, “Jesus’ words- so Yes! He is pure and speaks the truth and promises this. So of course I KNOW so. I know they will be in paradise soon…“

Words have a way to hurt or help, to comfort or discomfort, to soothe the soul or ruffle feathers. Words are powerful, the tongue can be either a weapon or a friend. The tongue is a very important part of the body. James uses three illustrations to express what the tongue is like and why it must be controlled in James 3:3-5. He illustrates each one brilliantly and offers explanations of such.

  • (3:3) BITS –“If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.” 
  • (3:4) SHIPS – “Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.”
  • (3:5) FIRES- So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

Fine example of how powerful the tongue it. We can speak life into a situation or circumstance or speak death! Remember in Ezekiel who the LORD told to speak life into the “old bones” to bring to life? Ezekiel 37:1-14 is about a vision given to the prophet Ezekiel, in which he was taken to a valley full of dry bones. The Lord asked him whether these bones could come to life, and Ezekiel responded that only the Lord knew. God then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and as he did, they began to come together and be covered with flesh.

So too can our words affect to this very day. The Word is a powerful tool for our soul, heart, body and mind! God’s Word is life enhancing, life fulfilling, life everlasting!

When we pull up the Word that should be there always hidden in our hearts, we can apply it to all kinds of life altering moments.

–Psalms 119:11 (KJV): Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Being Christian is one thing. It’s how you apply that Christianity in life is quite another altogether.

Do you use your words wisely?
Or do you use them in a useless way?
Do you offer up death to the dry bones?
Or do you speak life into the dry bones, bringing them to life?

That little part of your body, your tongue is a powerful tool. Please use it wisely. And when you have nothing to say, keep it still, be still and let God guide you- (Psalm 46:10). 

Remember you have the ability to make a difference to someone today, tomorrow and the next day- and all the days of your life!

“Father, may I serve you wisely this day, and may I use Your Word as a tool to help my brothers and sisters, and those I encounter throughout my day, today, tomorrow and always, in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”