Daily devotional · March 18
A New Creation
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Paul declares that anyone in Christ is a new creation. The old has passed, and the new has come. He does not say we are merely improved or repaired. Something genuinely new has begun. And all of it comes from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and does not hold our trespasses against us. Then Paul adds a remarkable responsibility: God has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation, so we are ambassadors, appealing to others on his behalf. People who have been forgiven become people who help others be reconciled. This has practical consequences for our own broken relationships. If God has made peace with us at such cost, we can be the first to reach out. Today, think of one strained relationship. Without demanding that everything be settled, take one small step toward peace: a kind message, an apology you owe, or a prayer for the person by name.
Prayer
God of reconciliation, make me new and make me a peacemaker. Amen.