Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Paul said God has already given us the ministry of reconciliation. This ministry is not only for Paul and his co-workers, but also for every believer. Because God's will is not meant for just you and me, but for all men to be saved, and none to perish. The ministry of reconciliation has been given to us. Reconciliation requires a price and requires wisdom to do. When we meet people who do not believe in God, are we anxious and are we willing to think really hard, so that that person can receive God's grace? Paul says this ministry has been given to us. In other words, whether or not we are ready or willing, you and I need to bear the responsibility to preach the gospel, to make reconcile men to God.

There was a young couple who was happily married. The husband was not a believer. During the fifth wedding anniversary, the wife told theh husband, "I'm very satisfied with our marriage in the past five years. However, it'll be even better if you can promise me one thing." Her husband asked, "What thing?" She said, "I hope you can believe in Jesus, and become a Christian." Her husband replied," Well, but let me first ask you, do you kill people?" "Of course not!" she answered. "Do you set things on fire?" "Of course not!" "Do you lie?" She hesitated for a while and answered, "Sometimes when things are difficult, I say a couple of lies to make it go away." Her husband said, "I am the same. I only lie if I have to. Do you play mahjong?" She hesitated again and said, "Ocassionally, just for socializing." Her husband said, "Me too!" After asking lots of questions, her husband said, "We do not kill, steal of commit arson. We lie occasionally and play some mahjong. What's the difference? Why do we need to believe in Jesus?" After hearing this, she knelt down before the Lord and cried bitterly. Since then, her life was changed drastically and her husband came to know the Lord. Can people around you see that you are different? Let us undertake this responsibility that God has entrusted to us to preach the gospel!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I pray you will give me a heart of compassion to see the needs of people around us. I ask that you give us a sense of mission to understand that the ministry of preaching the gospel has been entrusted to us. Help us to be diligent and finish the race for you. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!