March 27 - 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

The old saying goes, “Never judge a book by its cover.” This saying can apply to Christians, too.

On the cover of our lives what do we see? We see the old sinful nature. We see the times we sin and fall short of the glory of God. We see the fractures in the façade that reveal our failures and fears. Arguments, pettiness, squabbles, selfishness, lack of charity, lack of courage, lack of faith all abound for the eye to see on the outside. But don’t judge the book by its cover.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Yes, if you only see the outside things look pretty grim, but there is a greater story between the covers. It is the story of God reconciling us to himself through the cross of Christ. It is the tale of the Son of God giving his life so that our trespasses will not be counted against us. It is that amazing account of God making us ambassadors of reconciliation – people who share with the world the hope we have because of Jesus.

Don’t judge the book by its cover because, for our sake God made Jesus to be sin, although he knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Although we were in no way righteous, we are now because of Jesus.

When you look at yourself do you see the sins on the cover of the story of your life, or do you see the work that God is doing in you to reconcile you to himself? How has God’s reconciliation impacted your life?

Father in Heaven, you made Jesus to be sin for us so that in him we might become righteous. We are a new creation in Christ, and we have been reconciled to you! Thank you for Jesus’ willingness to bear our sin and to give us his righteousness. Forgive us for the times we focused on our behavior instead of on what you are doing to make us new in Christ. Please keep working in us, reconciling us to yourself and using us as your ambassadors to draw others into reconciliation with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.