Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — From One Sinner to Another

 

From One Sinner to Another

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

— Ephesians 4:4-7

God is in the business of calling us because human beings tend to forget that He is there. They like to imagine He doesn't care or, even more, that He doesn't exist. Now, while God set the process in motion by which human beings are born and live in this world yet, by our sin, we are at a distance from God.

God bridged this distance by sending His own Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to become a human being. Through the Savior's life, death, and resurrection, God has called us to faith and saved us. "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18).

That's right! We are now reconcilers—God's people whose witness is a call to others to experience the same mercy we have freely received.

Our calling out to others is like a mountaineer shouting directions across a chasm to those stranded on a precipice, guiding them to the safe path home. Our call is loud all right, but it's kind and understanding, too. That's because we remember when we were lost, unsure of our next step, and in desperate need of assistance.

This all adds up to the witnessing Christian being someone who has the right word at the right time. It's human and yet in touch with the Heavenly Father, persistently kind but not indulgent to the point of letting the needy person flounder in peril.

And above all, the Christian's act of proclaiming is one of love. We're telling others how much God our Father and Maker loves us. We're sharing the Good News of how the Father gave His only beloved Son to redeem us from the treacherous night of our sin and called us "into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9b).

Of course, this is tremendously risky for me to go on about the need for us to declare God's grace to others when we all know just how hard it is. Still, that's the task we are entrusted with, and with God's help we can be His mouthpieces in the world.

In all this, let us look to God to guide and direct our ministry efforts, so we can avoid those things that slow us down or derail us completely. Here is what Paul said to Timothy about conscientiously sharing the Gospel. "Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:23-25).

Blessings to you as your live out your calling.

Heavenly Father, lead us to share Your love with everyone we meet. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Richard R. Caemmerer

Reflection Questions:

1. When talking to others about spiritual matters, do you like there to be some kind of relationship connection first?

2. Do you think you would notice a "ministry of reconciliation" in someone's life? What might that look like?

3. Would you like to increase your interest and enthusiasm for sharing the Good News of Jesus with others? Are there things you can do to do that?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
God is in the business of calling us because human beings tend to forget that He is there. They like to imagine He doesn't care or, even more, that He doesn't exist.