Pumpkin Spiced Reconciliation
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 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.” 2 Cor. 5:18-19
Just got done spending a chuckled-filled Families for Christ weekend with Dr. Jim Ellis (Union University) and thought I would share some of what he shared with us. Dr. Ellis has some really good catch phrases but this weekend he started with, “Satan takes no prisoners-He leaves only wreckage.” How true is that, huh? From the very beginning our adversary has been seeking to devour us, spit us out and then leave us for dead. As long as we don’t make it to kneel before the Throne of Grace he has done his work to us. Breaking us and breaking the creation are the career goals of Satan.
As Dr. Ellis went on he reminded us that, “Too often our lives are defined by things that are broken. But God is in the business of rescuing us from sin and rebuilding broken people. Bringing together Creator and created by removing our sin through Christ’s work on the Cross, making peace with God.” It is a matter of reconciliation isn’t it? Starting with, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Gen 3:15) In his power pint presentation Dr. Ellis gave us these four points in reconciliation.
One…It is the Father’s pleasure in reconciliation, it is accomplished in Christ and AMEN that it includes the entire creation. That means everything folks.
Two…The Father’s process of reconciliation comes through the Cross and is done By His Son’s death on it.
Three…The Father’s purpose in reconciliation is to restore our relationship with Him so that we will reflect His glory to an unsaved world.
Four…The Father’s promise in reconciliation is the foundation of our faith and it brings hope to the human heart.
So to wrap this up in a Matt Henry sorta fashion, it was by the inspiration of God that the Scriptures were written and they are the very words of reconciliation. Showing us all that peace has been made by the cross and how we may be interested in partaking in it. And although God cannot lose by the argument nor gain by the peace, He still offers sinners to lay aside their enmity and accept the salvation He offers. Christ knew no sin. He was made Sin; not a sinner, but Sin, a Sin-offering, a Sacrifice for sin. The end and design of it all was that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him and might be justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.
Along with this reconciliation comes thanksgiving. I don’t mean the turkey, stuffing, gravy with all the trimmings kind of thanksgiving either. Keep this in mind as you sit down with your pumpkin pie this upcoming Thanksgiving Day. However, a good cup of coffee and some whipped cream goes well with pumpkin pie…just sayin’!!! – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a regular Freedom Fighter contributor
Compass Pointers: “There is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with the full assurance that they have known God, and that God has known them, and this relationship guarantees God’s favor to them in life, through the death and forever.” J. I. Packer
Anchored to the Rock: No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. Ambrose
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