For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
2 Cor. 5
Look at v. 17. How are you a new creation in Christ? What still needs to be made new in you? Wow – Paul says a lot here! He lays out what it means to truly live for God. What I really want to take to heart, though, is his description of his ministry. Though I am not the evangelist that Paul was, I believe we all have the same ministry that he describes. We just all live it out differently, though the motivations are the same.
In a nutshell, when we are reconciled to God, we are changed. We no longer see others, or anything, really, from our old worldly perspective. What we now know should create a desire in us to show others that God offers them the same reconciliation that He gave to us. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.” (2 Cor. 5:20a).
I sometimes think I am too much like King Hezekiah, who was just happy that the prophesied destruction wasn’t happening to him. I don’t want that. And I don’t want to be like Jonah, either, who preferred to see the wicked get their due rather than turn from their wickedness. Far better, I believe, to be like Paul, who took on the very heart of God in his desire to persuade others to reconciliation. “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?” (Ez. 33:11).
Judges 21
The story gets worse, and ends with “everyone did as they saw fit.” What happens when people live this way? How does this ending to the book of Judges make you feel? What does it make you desire? Each one of these horrible stories that took place after the death of Samson (from chapter 17 on) ends with the same phrase. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” (Jud. 21:25). This also works out to be the last statement in a book that shows the downward spiral of Israel’s departure from God’s ways. The statement is the point of this book of Judges. This book shows what happens when we as individuals, and especially as a society, reject God as The King, instead going our own way. Good leadership helps, but only if that leadership steps aside and points people to the only True King, who is God.
The sad part is that, if we open our eyes, we see the book of Judges playing out all over again today, as it has likely done many times over the ages. I am so saddened as I see people replacing God’s truth with their own corrupt lies. And my heart breaks as I see people trying to reframe God’s word to suit their own desires. How did we get here? Perhaps it is because I, and too many others like me, have been far too content to live our reconciled lives without fully embracing the desire to be God’s ambassadors in extending His appeal for reconciliation to others.
Ps. 50
God says He doesn’t need their sacrifices. Why? What does He want? How can you give that to Him? God doesn’t ‘need’ anything from us. There is nothing we can give Him that He doesn’t already own. But He desires our hearts. “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble” (Ps. 50:14-15a). While it’s nice to be needed, it means so much more to be wanted simply because we are loved.
Prov. 10
This is the first chapter of collected proverbs (short pithy sayings of wisdom). Pick out one or two that speak to you, and share them with a friend today. “Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.” (Pr. 10:17). I think a lot about how discipline and good decision making impacts my own life. But I don’t know that I often think specifically about how my own discipline, or lack thereof, affects those around me. It stands to reason, though. I learned a long time ago that we all have somebody watching us, whether we know it or not.
So this verse tells me that I need to make that conscious effort to live sincerely for God because I never know who my choices might influence. And I don’t mean trying to do ‘all the right things’ so that others will look favorably on me. The goal is that they will see God through me. Even when I know nobody is watching, a disciplined life is important because it builds good habits in me to live well when I am under pressure before others.