Unashamed Reading Plan
Check out all the previous Unashamed readings here.
Unashamed Reading Plan | Week 6 | Day 4
Prayer
Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Ask God to give you His wisdom today.
Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Read these verses three times slowly.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 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. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Reflection & Questions
We have been looking this week at how we have died to sin and the Law and we are now free to live for Christ. In our verses today, Paul expresses this same point in a different way: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Like the excitement of a brand-new baby and the new life that has come into the world, Paul is thrilled that he has a new life and that he is able to offer that new life to anyone who listens.
His new life has a purpose – to bring others to know this new life. It’s too good for him to keep in. He has become an “ambassador” for Jesus. And his message is simple: “Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The same applies to us. Our mission as a church is to “lead every ONE to discover Jesus and follow Him fully.” We are ambassadors of Jesus to our ones. Offering them new life in His name.
- How have you reached out to your ONE lately?
- Are you pleased to be an ambassador of Jesus? Why or why not? Talk to God about that.
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Read these verses three times slowly.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 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. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Reflection & Questions
Have you ever had a pair of shoes that were so old and grimy and stinky that you never wanted to wear them again? And then you went shopping for a brand new pair that you wore home from the store – what an awesome feeling, right?
That’s kinda like what Paul is saying in today’s verse: “The old has gone, the new is here!” Except Paul is talking about YOU! When you become saved through Jesus, you are a “new creation.” You get to get rid of the feeling of being grimy and stinky and get that feeling of being brand new! Jesus washes away all the sin of your past, present, and even your future. That doesn’t mean that you will be able to be perfect, but it does mean that when you make bad choices and sin, He will forgive those sins so you can start fresh again.
The second part of today’s scripture has the word “ambassador” in it. An ambassador is someone who “acts as a representative or promoter.” Paul is asking US to be ambassadors for Christ – to represent Him and to promote Him. Our mission as a church is to “lead every ONE to discover Jesus and follow Him fully.” We are ambassadors of Jesus to our Ones.
- Who is ONE person that Jesus puts on your heart? What are some things you can do to be an ambassador of Jesus to that person?
Pray
Pray for your ONE today. Ask Jesus to show you ways that you can be an ambassador for Him to your friends and family.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
