The message is "Entrusted," not "Encrypted"

Scripture Verse that caught my attention today: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.

Observation: This is one of those especially hopeful passages in Scripture.

Application: Christians are called to share God’s message of reconciliation. In fact, that message has been “entrusted” to us for that very purpose. For some reason, however, we often treat it more like an "encrypted" message, the likes of which only the most seasoned insider would ever understand.

I strikes me that this is pretty much opposite the experience of Jesus. He actually was the message of reconciliation in and of himself, yet it was the outsiders who most readily grasped what he had to share while the insiders struggled to get a clue.

I think it's time to endeavor to break all encryptions related to the reconciling work that God has done and is doing through Christ. It won't be easy, but that's what we've been entrusted to do.

Prayer: Lord, help us to take to heart what you’ve already done and to respond with genuine thanksgivng. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Ruth 1-2, Psalms 53 & 61, and 2 Corinthians 5)