Letters From PaulNäide

PREPARE

Take a moment to quiet your heart as you set aside today’s distractions.

Ask God to prepare you to read and receive his holy Word.

READ: 2 Corinthians 5:17–21

Dear Friend,

Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also. Our message is that God was making all human beings his friends through Christ. God did not keep an account of their sins, and he has given us the message which tells how he makes them his friends.

Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends! Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.

In Christ,

Paul

REFLECT

Understanding the transformative work of Jesus Christ was critical for the Corinthians—and for us. Where do you see evidence of this transformation in your own life?

How do you react to Paul’s statement that God has given us the message that tells others how he makes them his friends through Jesus Christ? How can you share that message today?

PRAY

Paul encourages us to think of ourselves as mouthpieces for God: “Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends!” Ask God to bring to mind three people in your life who are not yet friends of God. Pray for them each by name. Ask God to reveal the miracle of salvation to them. And ask for opportunities to share the gospel with these three people!