This Week’s Passage and Memory Verse (in red):
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
This very well could be my favorite passage in all of the Bible. There is so much packed into these verses. It was very hard to pick one verse to focus on as a memory verse because they are ALL memory verse worthy. You might want to give a shot.
I think I’ll do something a little different this week. I’m going to take each verse and turn it into a prayer that reflects my pondering. Feel free to listen in as I talk with God.
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. “Lord, I want to be so compelled by the love that you have for me that I can’t help but be used by You to change and influence this world. I need the conviction that Christ did indeed die for me to be more than an intellectual conviction – I need my heart and soul to experience this conviction – so that I don’t just believe but that I behave redemptively. Would You do this in me by Your Spirit!”
15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. “Thank you Lord that you died for me so that I don’t have to live a self-absorbed life – now I am free to live a life that is God-directed and God-centered. More and more would you teach me what it means to live for you in ways that the world recognizes that the death and resurrection of your Son has transformed me.”
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. “I confess that I look at people through my own selfish eyes rather than through your eyes. I see them as people that I can use for my advantage rather than as people who are helpless and needy. I don’t see them as victims of Satan’s rage and influence. I don’t see them with pain and hurt and despair. I don’t see them as eternally lost and without hope. Would you change the way that I see people – open my eyes that I can see people as you see them.”
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! “Father, I’m grateful that not only am I in Christ but that Christ is in me. And that you have changed me – I know that I’m not nearly as bad as I used to be. I know that I am a new person – I live with hope and joy and peace and with the assurance that I belong to you.”
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. “Lord, I know that you have done this great work of reconciliation in me so that I can be instrumental in the work of reconciling others to you. Again, help me to see people in their lostness so that there is an urgency about sharing this awesome message – that people don’t have to live lives of quiet desperation.”
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. “Lord, I sense Paul’s passion here that people be reconciled to you. Would you create this same kind of passion in me – a burning desire to see people brought back into right relationship with you.”
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. ” In this verse I’m reminded of the extent that you went to so that I might be found righteous in your sight. Build your courage in me by your Spirit that I might be an instrument of righteousness to others.”
I have continued to enjoy the pondering comments that you leave. One suggestion for those of you who post your comments on Facebook – instead go directly to the blog post and leave your comments there so that others can see them as well when they visit the blog.
I’m just sayin’!
Next Week’s Passage: Revelation 2:1-7
Next Week’s Memory Verse: Revelation 2:4
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
14/15
Christ’s love should compel us, because he died for everyone. We all will die, but only those die to the world and live for him will be raised to live again.
Am I compelled to live for GOD? YES! I have finally changed my Major (I’m attempting to finish my Bachelors degree). I attended the women’s conference this past weekend and was so convicted of not already having this done. This will be a completely different direction for me. Completely taking me out of my comfort zone. I know that I can only accomplish this through God and not on my own.
16
We should no longer look at anyone with the worlds eyes, even though we once did to Christ.
How do I view others? Do I look at them and judge them through the world’s eyes or am I looking at them threw Christ’s eyes. Have you ever thought about how Christ views the lost? We are all his creation, how do you think he looks at the “lost”? I can only imagine the sadness that he fells every time someone passes away without having that relationship with him. He is our Father, which makes others our brothers and sisters. It is up to us to make sure that we can add “in Christ” to the end of that phrase.
17
If you are a believer then you are a new person. The old person is now gone
How many people have I “wronged’ through the years and didn’t care? Thank you Lord that I am no longer that old person. Enough said.
18
God did this for us and wants us to help restore others.
What am I doing to restore others? What am I doing to bring others to Christ? My answer is not one that I would consider acceptable to God. My life has been so filled up with “things to do” I can only hope that my example has been acceptable, as the guilt sets in as I type.
19
God gave the world a gift. The gift was the ability to live in harmony with him through Christ and not count our sins against us.
How often do we just praise God for the gift of salvation? Have you ever sat back and thought about those of the Old Testament who had to live under the law. They had to follow rules down to the most minor details to hope that they did what they should have for their sins to be forgiven. God has given us the gift of forgiveness if we just believe. We need to make sure that we thank him daily for this gift.
20
Because of this we are to try and tell the world that Christ died for us and get them to reestablish the close relationship with God.
God wants his children to share and this means sharing our salvation with others. This is one a few things that God asks of us. Think about it. God ask so little of us. He is just asking for us to share, he will take care of the rest. We make this seem so hard. Why? Go back to vs. 16 we are still keeping our worldly lenses on, we care about what the world is thinking instead of what God has asked and thinks.
21
Jesus didn’t have sin. God made Jesus sinless, so that he could take on our sins. This way we could be righteous (sin free) for God.
Thank you father, for sending Jesus in my place. I’m a low down dirty rat and you sent your son to make me righteous in your eyes. As a mother, this gift is beyond comprehension. Lord help me to strive and yearn to be worthy of this gift.
Shay this is just beautiful!!! I am blessed to be your sister!
Fran