Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 13; 2 Corinthians 6; Ezekiel 20; Psalms 66 & 67
2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
Have you ever had someone work together with you on a project? As a kid I spent a lot of time working together with my dad. I always enjoyed that work even if it was really hard work because we were working together. Our heavenly Father invites us to be workers together with him in this great work of reconciliation. The apostle Paul says in another place:
1 Corinthians 3:9a For we are labourers together with God…
As a worker with God in this ministry of reconciliation, we are to beseech men. This word means to call near or invite men to Christ. It means to exhort and to comfort. This is the great work we are called to! You and I can call men to come to God through Christ for reconciliation with confidence and faith knowing that if they will call upon him, they will be saved. This beseeching call happens when we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To receive the grace of God is to trust in Christ and be reconciled to God. Christ was made a sin offering so we could become the righteousness of God in him!
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Some people receive this message in vain. That is they just hear about Jesus and what he has done for them and it rolls off of them like water off a duck’s back. It has no effect because they don’t embrace Jesus Christ by faith. How sad! The apostle warns that this can happen in another place as well:
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
As we work together with God we call men to him and beg them to receive the Lord with the open arms of faith. We don’t want to see men complacent in their sin and separation from God. We want people to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and NEVER be the same again!
What about you? Has the gospel so changed you that you are now rolling up your sleeves and working together with God? He is inviting you to that great task!
In Christ,
Rody
