July 13, 2012
YOU MAY BE GOD'S MIRACLE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE
2 Corinthians 5
Chad Pinson
Central Truth
God intends for the words and works of His followers to demonstrate His love for this world and its people. We often experience God's love, character, and plan through the words and deeds of His followers. People are His ambassadors and appeal to this earth.
Key Verse | 2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us . . . . (2 Corinthians 5:20a)
2 Corinthians 5
Our Heavenly Dwelling
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on 1 5:3 Some manuscripts putting it off we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 5:17 Or creature The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 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 3 5:19 Or God was in Christ, 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.
Dive Deeper | 2 Corinthians 5
People ask, "If there is a God, why does He allow so much suffering?" A best seller was titled "God is Not Great." Some followers of Christ even say, "My faith is a very personal thing."
I recently spent time with different people who are unemployed, rape victims, sick and terminally ill, struggling with infertility, struggling with addiction, and hurting from past or ongoing abuse and neglect. These suffering, hurting, and lost people cry out to God for help, relief, respite, and comfort. They wonder whether He is there at all, whether He is great, and whether He will get involved.
I'm reminded in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that Christ's followers are God's ambassadors here on earth. A Christian's conduct and works is not what leads him or her to salvation, but it does inform the world about God's character, nature, and plan. God can and does perform supernatural miracles. But He also shows His love for us, intervening in our lives, problems, and desperate situations, and answering prayer through the actions of His followers.
We want God to seek out those in need and provide aid and comfort. The call of Christ's followers is to act as His ambassadors here on this earth and do good works that tell the world He loves us, He has a plan, He is involved, He is there, and He is great. When we seek out those in need -- rape victims, people in poverty, the unemployed, the hungry, the sick, the desperate, the addicted, the hurting, and the lost -- and provide love, aid, and comfort, we are His appeal to this earth.
This chapter motivated me to do God's work, showing the world God's love through my actions. What we want God to do, we must do in His name. We cannot afford for our faith to be "a personal thing." It must be interpersonal, intentional, and active so that people can know God loves and cares for them.
Discussion Questions
1. Can your faith be a "personal thing" that you do not share with others?
2. Is it enough to be secure in your own salvation and your own personal relationship with God, or should your faith produce good works of speech and deed that affect others?
3. Is it enough to love and serve people who do not have a faith-based relationship with God without sharing God's plan of salvation with them?
4. Do the words, works, actions, and deeds of your life cause others to believe God loves them, is there for them, and has a plan for them?
5. How are you doing as God's ambassador and appeal to this earth?
6. Are you strategically seeking out the lost and those in need to love and serve them, as Jesus did in His lifetime?
7. Will you commit to memorize and live out 2 Corinthians 5:20?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
2 Corinthians 1-5 (July 9-13)
Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.
• Verse 7 talks about our bodies being like fragile clay jars, what do you think this means?
• How do you see your body being fragile (both physically and spiritually)?
• Have you ever watched someone else experience verses 8 & 9; that is, go through really hard times, but not be "crushed"?
• What did you see in that person? What helped that person to continue to trust Jesus and show others He is faithful?
• What are ways that you might be "crushed" or "pressed"? (Think about school, work, sports, friends.)
• How can you trust the "treasure" inside of you to shine through even in the hard times?
Activity: Take time to write an encouraging letter to a person you have seen stay faithful and shine for Jesus even in hard times. And then write a letter to someone you know who is in the middle of hard times. Be sure to encourage them with Scripture, reminding them of the treasure they have and who is faithful. Now mail the letters to each of them.