Day 23 - "... that we might bring redemption to the world, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen."
I have been thinking about this lately. What does it mean for us to be part of redemptive process? We are not saved to just be saved, waiting it out on earth till we die and get to take off and go to heaven. No! We have a purpose for being here, and the more I think about it the more I am convinced that all Christians are called to be part of bringing redemption to the world. (2 Corinthians 5:18 (NIV) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation). Note: this includes more than just humans, but it includes the whole earth and everything in it! (Colossians 1:20 (NIV) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.).
How can you and I take up the ministry of reconciliation? I was thinking a couple ways we could join in on the redemption process are:
- to participate in the ending of injustice, not to just sit by and let evil persist but to get involved, in whatever small or large way we can. Buy fair trade? Get involved in the fight to end human sex slavery?
- to testify, to evangelize, this does not mean you have to get on the street corner with a sandwich board or become the next Billy Graham, this can be as simple as taking every opportunity to share with others what God has done/is doing in your life.
- What about taking care of the physical space God has given you to steward? If we all did are part by recycling/reducing/reusing, planting a small garden, not littering, buying local, being carful with the electricity and water we use, maybe we could be a part of the redemption of the land to The Lord.
These are just some ideas, but the larger idea is GET INVOLVED! We are not here to "wait it out," we ALL have a calling to be agents of redemption and reconciliation, so get to it! Enough with the sitting around, there are injustices to end, people to love, and an earth to clean up! These are (some) of the markers of a follower of Jesus, so are you following Jesus?
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