I took some time off from blogging because I needed to think some things through - mainly in relation to my personal life. However, I knew it would affect and be affected by what I was planning to post in my next few blog entries. In addition, we photographed a dance studio - 200+ girls, & a few boys, many in 2, 3 or even 5 or 6 different costumes. So on top of my regular work load, there have been hundreds of photos to sort through, edit and prepare for clients. I wound up being away from the blog much longer than I expected. I'll try to pick up where I left off. We had been talking about "all things," and about the power and sovereignty of God.
God's grace has a cyclical function and effect. He is reconciling all things to Himself in order to give all things to His heirs for the maturing of His heirs into the image of His Son. For us, this process is learning how to go on (live as mature believers) the way we got in (were reconciled). Remember? You get in by grace through faith, you go on by grace through faith. You get in by the cross, and go on by the cross. You get in by ceasing from your efforts to save yourself & resting in His work on your behalf, you go on by ceasing from your efforts and resting in His working and power for the living out the Christian life day-to-day (going on). The way you get in is the way you go on. As you received Christ, so walk in Him.
As we do this, others will see how to get in by the way we go on, and thereby, they will be reconciled to God. "Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). If you are "going on" the same way you "got in," others will observe how you go on and learn how to get in. That's why so many people are confused about what it means to be a Christian. Our going on doesn't often enough match our getting in! We forget it was with a view to reconciling all men to Himself that God has sealed us with His own Holy Spirit as both the proof and the promise of our inheritance in Him!
To reconcile means "to restore to friendship." It means to so put away all enmity that friendship follows. It is the process whereby He gives us His own righteousness so that we may be qualified recipients of the love He wants to give us. In other words, we do not deserve His love, so He makes us deserving of it. It is by His doing that we are in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 1:30-31), not having a righteousness of our own, but that which is through faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9). It is the mystery of the ages now revealed, Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27). It is an expression of His grace, lavished upon us, to the praise and the glory of His grace.
The ministry of reconciliation is not a job given to executives in the institutional church hierarchy. It is the task given to each of us by Jesus in the great commission: to introduce others to His plan of restoring man to Himself. In ministering His reconciliation to the world, we fulfill His "household economy" of summing up all things in Christ and redeeming His purchased, blood bought possession to Himself, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:10).
So God uses all things to bring glory to Himself. He uses all things to bring men into reconciliation with Himself. This means all things! Health and sickness, life and death, wealth and poverty, happy marriages and broken relationships - car accidents, cancer ("easily cured" or "long-term battle" or "3 months to live" cancer), live birth or miscarriage or still born, amputated limbs or broken bones.... You get the idea: all things! It is important - crucial - that we believe that He really exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. He delights in blessing us. He delights in reconciling men to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. He takes great joy in us. He desires that we take as much joy in Him, and introduce others to the joy of finding joy in Him.
In the next few days, we'll talk about the key factor on our part that brings our life into alignment with Him and His will so that all things actually do work together for good to those who love Him.
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