2 Corinthians 5:18-19
18 “Now all things are of God who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”
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Most people you meet in the world have never actually read the Bible, yet still they have formed an opinion about what it says. Even if they have read it, they may only have a fuzzy idea of what it says or what it means.
That’s where we come in, Church. As we read God’s word, the Holy Spirit takes that word and transforms us into Christ’s image. The unsaved see us and that is what they “read.” You and I are God’s living love letters to them. 💖
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How Does God See The Unsaved?
Jesus does not see unsaved people the way we do. Believe it or not, He doesn’t condemn them. 😮 Far from it! He sees them as “Sheep without a Shepherd.” 💖
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“And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)
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All the lost sheep around us have never heard that God loves them; that He isn’t angry with them. They don’t know their sins were ALL paid for by Jesus. They don’t know that the only thing left for them to do is simply ACCEPT the gift of righteousness FREELY offered to them.
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They desperately need to hear this good news of what Jesus had to go through in order to save them. They don’t know all they need is a Savior; that all of us only need Jesus.
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Our job, Church, is to “Reconcile the world,” meaning the unsaved, “To Himself; to Jesus.” It is not to condemn the world. If Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it, what makes us think it’s our job to condemn sinners?🤨 We must be about our Father’s business, not our own twisted ideas about salvation. Let’s stick to what Jesus told us to do.
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State of BE-ING.
That is why it’s so critical that those of us who are believers keep our focus on Jesus, NOT on sinners, so that we can be transformed into His image. They will be able to see the image of Jesus in us. Remember, He said we will “BE witnesses.” He didn’t say “You must go and “DO” witnessing.”
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“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall BE WITNESSES to Me in Jerusalem, and in ll Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NKJV)
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It is a state of being. You will walk out what you are and what you are becoming in Christ. Being is not “doing,” although it can lead to doing. As we abide in Him, He abides in us, we BEcome a living testament effortlessly! 🙌🏻
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Salvation Is Not Automatic.
SALVATION IS NOT AUTOMATIC, nor is it universal. Each one must ask for and receive the gift FREELY OFFERED to them. This is clearly demonstrated in the book of Ruth.
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Boaz knew of Ruth and Naomi’s situation. He knew she was a foreigner and a relative by marriage. He knew he was her Kinsman Redeemer and that he had an obligation to provide an heir for his brother’s wife. But most Jewish men would refuse to do so because it would mar their inheritance.
Even though she was a foreigner, Boaz showed her many kindnesses and provided food for her and Naomi. But Ruth had to come to him and ask for his help. She had to ask him to redeem her.
Remember how she went to the threshing floor? She did all the Naomi had instructed her, and Boaz accepted her offer. He gladly redeemed her, after dealing with a closer relative who was also a kinsman redeemer.
You can read all about it in chapter three of the book of Ruth. It’s a beautiful testimony of how much the Lord loves us and is willing to redeem us.
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Friend Of Sinners.
Back when Jesus walked this earth, sinners were ATTRACTED to Him in droves. He was a friend of sinners. It stands to reason that the more like Him we are, the more we are transformed by “beholding Him,” the more people with whom we interact will be attracted to Jesus. Simple!
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You see, since Jesus cannot be here in the flesh, we’re it. But please, don’t go looking at yourself in the mirror and get all discouraged by what your natural eyes see. Instead, continually behold your reflection in the mirror of the Word of God. See yourself the way The Father does: Forever pure, forever righteous, and precious to Him beyond price, engraved on Jesus’ heart!
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(For more on the the topic of what God sees when He looks at you, follow this link:
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Keep on beholding Jesus, Church, because, to everyone you meet, you are a living love letter!
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