WE MUST SPEND another day on God’s being in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. The other side of that verse is: “gave us the ministry of reconciliation . . . entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18–19). Here we are given both “the ministry of reconciliation” and “the message of reconciliation.” The message of reconciliation may be verbal; the ministry of reconciliation will be vital. We not only give the message, we give ourselves, the messenger—to reconciliation. The word of reconciliation becomes flesh. We take the conflicts, the hates, the resentments of men, and make them our own. We reconcile them in our own bodies by suffering with them and for them.
I usually take my compliments and lay them at the feet of Jesus as fast as they come, for they belong to Him. But one I’ve cherished in my own heart as something to live up to. The Africans are very shrewd. After studying each newcomer and his characteristics, they give him a name which expresses his dominant trait or characteristic. They gave me the name of “Reconciler.” It sent me to my knees. That is what the Christian is supposed to be. He has the message and ministry of reconciliation. The message becomes flesh in the person and the ministry of reconciliation comes out of the person. He suffers with and for both parties and brings them together in His own broken heart. It takes broken hearts to mend the world.
A doctor on board ship said of a certain mentally and emotionally ill young man, a passenger, “I could straighten him out before we get to the end of the voyage, but I’m not going to do it. It would mean too much suffering for me.” He let the man suffer it out himself. The hope of the world is for those who will be willing to enter into the pain and sorrow and frustrations of the world and exercise the ministry of reconciliation.
God, my Father, I’m to be like Thee—to do what Thou dost do. It is challenging and breathtaking, but I come. Take my heart and fill it with Thy pains for others. I share Thy pains and with them Thy joy. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: The ministry of reconciliation—to that I am dedicated and to that I will give myself.
