Our text for today comes from 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 & 6:1-10: 20 We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you. 21 How? you say. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God. 1 Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. 2 God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. 3 Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. 4 Our work as God's servants gets validated - or not - in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; 5 when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; 6 with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; 7 when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; 8 when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; 9 ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; 10 immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all. (The Message)
Life is too precious to spend it angry; yet, somewhere, and it's probably close, there is a person awaking for church or choosing to stay away from worship because she or he is angry at the pastor or one of his/her brothers/sisters in church. The decision that person will make about worship today hurts her or him only and if not careful, in an ultimate sort of way. Paul knew plenty of that kind of people and he asks the question, How can we be representatives of the greatest love the world has ever seen when we don't even love each other? How can we be co-workers for good when we're trying our best to do harm to each other? If we are truly "companions" of the Lord's we will seek ways to be loving towards each other and working to reach those who have not yet heard or accepted God's love for them.
How will you spend this day? In worship, joyful to be alive and among God's people or angry that sometime ago, you were not selected or saluted or your style of singing was not chosen, or, or, or, or, or....
PRAYER: Loving God, I am thankful to be alive and to enjoy what always is a blessing to join voices, hands, hearts with my brothers and sisters in Your worship. I pray for those mentioned above and for me when I am just like them. Life is too precious to spend it mad at one another. There's more important work to be done! Help me do it! Forgive me and help me go on; in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
