We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Cor. 5:20)
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING at a table of negotiation. That Saturday, it was easy to sense that representatives from both First Church downtown and the middle school that bordered it wanted to settle the issue of using the church parking lot for school events. The issue shouldn’t have taken as long to settle as it did, but for several months it seemed that both the church and school representatives enjoyed arguing more than reaching a settlement. It was only when the senior pastor of First Church called the principal of the middle school to meet over coffee that any noticeable progress was made. When they showed up together at the next meeting and spoke with one voice, it only took half an hour to reach a solution. The church, as a good neighbor in the community, would simply allow overflow parking for school events whenever the church wasn’t in session. When possible, the school would reciprocate.
For Paul, being Christ’s ambassador meant being an ambassador of reconciliation. The Christian’s attitude should be one that invites reconciliation. Representing God is too important a task to obsess over winning an argument. The ministry of reconciling people to God is too important.
The attitude we carry into everyday life should invite the people around us to be reconciled with one another, with us, and with God.
Demonstrate an attitude of reconciliation to at least one person today.
Steve Wamberg is a husband, dad, writer, and pastor who loves preaching, teaching, music, coffee, and Nebraska football.
