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A primary expectation, opportunity, and privilege of a life spent following Jesus is work. Enjoyable, energizing, tough, difficult, richly rewarding work. If we follow Jesus, within this work we have been given a task, and we are expected to carry it out– both individually and collectively. And while we have different gifts to use in different ways, there is no difference in the overall task assigned to us: reconciling people to God.

I wanted to explore a few key words from a passage in 2 Corinthians 5:

→“Katallassō”= to reconcile, restore to favor,
to exchange hostility for peace and friendship, completely and fully

→“Diakonia”= ministry, service, responsibility entrusted to someone

Put together, these imply a “ministry of reconciliation”.

→“Presbeuomen”= ambassador, to act as a representative, on the behalf / authority of someone greater

Reconciliation involves a state of making something right– turning separation into relationship, hostility into peace, and guilt into forgiveness– completely. 

Our work– our responsibility and ministry– is to serve as ambassadors, with this message to others of reconciliation with God offered through Jesus Christ.

This work is relational work, and we are tasked with building relationships, which is critical to this ministry.

Before anything else though, this all starts with our personal reconciliation with God. Only then, can we move forward in representing Christ (and his heart) towards others in our lives, working through:

• mercy
• forgiveness
• kindness
• compassion
• love
• humility
• service

Tough Reality

A man who professes to follow Jesus cannot fully complete this mission, this ministry and this task if he is isolating, hiding, running from relational conflict, avoiding, retaliating against, or harboring bitterness, unforgiveness and resentment towards others.

And, there is no work harder – more challenging – and often painful, than engaging in real relational work, because it often demands a lot of you.

But, there is also nothing more rewarding than working towards this task. Consider…

Personal rewards —
friendships, right relationships, peace with others, joy and delight here on earth

Kingdom rewards —
others made right with God – eternal life, glory, peace, fruit, and joy.

So…

Moving Forward

Work hard to represent Christ

Work hard to draw others to Him.

Look for opportunities and ways to do this work.

You may (and should) find yourself pleading with and for (“parakaleō”) others, yet never forcing.

Each relationship in front of you may provide an opportunity to participate in this ministry.

Become a “welcoming invitation” to draw others towards God through your words, your actions, your story, and your life– this is your work and the task given to you.  

“[18] And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. [19] For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. [20] So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” [21] For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

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Writer’s note: I’m not a theologian – I’m just a regular guy in Charleston SC who enjoys diving into God’s word in the morning. As words (and coffee) sink in, I journal and love sharing what I’m learning. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me at gerberxc@gmail.com