{"id":24024,"date":"2018-10-24T03:30:28","date_gmt":"2018-10-24T10:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=24024"},"modified":"2018-10-23T16:29:27","modified_gmt":"2018-10-23T23:29:27","slug":"october-24-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/10\/24\/october-24-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"October 24, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cNow then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ\u2019s behalf, be reconciled to God.\u201d <\/em>2 Corinthians 5:20<\/p>\n

God\u2019s Pleading<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Part 1<\/em><\/h4>\n

Have you ever slipped away from intimacy with God? Perhaps you are as dry as Death Valley. Or maybe you are backslidden from the walk you once had, and now you are caught up in some sin.<\/p>\n

You know you are not in the right place in your heart, but other things have crowded out God\u2019s obvious presence. You are busy and preoccupied. You get nothing out of your morning or evening Bible reading. Your prayers are boring even you, and so you have stopped praying. You\u2019ve taken a break from serving Him, seeking Him. Worship feels \u201coutside\u201d of you.<\/p>\n

Something is very, very wrong.<\/p>\n

Paul wrote this letter, 2 Corinthians, to a church, to believers, to saints. Yet he is pleading for them to be reconciled to God! Why? Wasn\u2019t that reconciliation already taken care of by Christ on the cross? What more is there?<\/p>\n

There is nothing more, in the sense of having a secure salvation. His work on the cross is all the work that had to be done to make atonement for our sins.<\/p>\n

However, Paul is saying that it is possible to sabotage a personal relationship with God. Anyone who has ever had a spouse or good friend can testify that people may slip away from one another when the pursuit of other things becomes more important than maintaining the relationship. And of course, we can do things that completely undermine our relationships, such as infidelity in marriage, or gossiping, backbiting about, or ignoring, a friend.<\/p>\n

This passage says that Paul is pleading with these fallen believers to be reconciled to God, as if God Himself were pleading or imploring with them. \u201cCome back to Me! Make things right! Be restored in relationship! Let\u2019s be close again!\u201d<\/p>\n

You see, He won\u2019t be sending Jesus to die again for those who have walked away. If somehow we think His death wasn\u2019t enough, God also sent His Spirit to live in us. And if we think His indwelling Spirit isn\u2019t enough, Jesus is always before the Father, advocating for us, making intercession for us. Jesus really IS imploring God on our behalf.<\/p>\n

Believers, step up and make things right with God. Confess. Repent. Turn around and walk the right way. If you don\u2019t know the right way, get some godly counsel. If your heart is unwilling, or if your resolve is weak, ask Him\u2014beg Him, implore Him\u2014for His help. Be reconciled to Him!<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know, Father, that You have done all You could, all that was needed, for us to have a right relationship with You. Help us be reconciled to You in every area of our lives. We ask in Jesus\u2019 Name. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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