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2 Corinthians 5:18-20: 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 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. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

“You gave him what? After how poorly he spent his inheritance, you gave him access to the family bank account? What are you thinking?” I imagine this is what the older brother was thinking when he learned that the father had given his younger brother the family ring. As we continue to study through the story of the prodigal son, it is fitting for us to zoom in on the implications of the details we’re given in this story. When the father gives the younger son his ring, it is the ancient equivalent of handing him a checkbook to the family bank account. It was a sign of financial and business authority. Needless to say, that gesture demonstrates tremendous grace, but it is also an invitation to participate fully in the functions of the family.

As Christ followers, God does the same thing with us. When he places his spirit in us, he makes us ambassadors for Christ, as the passage says above. We receive authority and access to God’s resources in order to participate in the functions of God’s family. In 2 Corinthians, Paul tells us how we should use this authority. He says we have been given ‘the ministry of reconciliation.’

God’s grace towards us is not just a forgiveness of sin. It is an invitation to be a part of what our father is doing in the world. Even though we have squandered our lives in many ways by our sin, we are invited to join the Father in reconciling others into his family, just as we have been reconciled. Take a moment to pray this prayer based upon 2 Corinthians 3:4-6.

God help me to understand the confidence that I have through Christ toward you. Not that I am sufficient by myself to claim anything as coming from me, but that my sufficiency is from You. You made me sufficient to be a minister of a new covenant that you set up through Jesus. Thank you God for making me sufficient and teach me to live in that sufficiency as I live as a minister of that covenant for others.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]

By Aaron Bjorklund  

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