(by pastor Norman)
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18; NKJV). The apostle Paul states clearly that through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross He paid the price for our sins so that we could be restored in our relationship with God and share the good news with others. Paul exhorted his spiritual son Timothy to be faithful to teach others to share the good news of Jesus (2 Tim 2:2). The apostle Peter told us that, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9; NKJV). Paul asks us how people will know and believe in Jesus if we don’t tell them and he added that those who go and tell have beautiful feet (Rom 10:14-15). God has given us the power and ability of the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) and even promises to give us the words to say (Mark 13:11). I love the divine appointment Jesus had with the woman at Sychar (John 4:9-42). God will give us those divine appointments to witness to others and all heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). The first two gospels in the New Testament (Matthew and Mark) direct us to share the gospel and make disciples of Jesus (Matt 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18). What more encouragement do we need? Let’s be God’s ministers of reconciliation!