God had promised that Abraham would bless all the families on earth (Genesis 12:3). Jesus is the blessing to all nations. The Gospel of Matthew opens with the genealogy of Jesus, which directly connects Jesus to Abraham. Matthew 1:1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and …
The need for reconciliation ranks among the most crucial necessities in our lives and the world. Reconciliation brings joy. But its roots often lie in the past. God told Abraham he and Sarah would have the son of the promise. After years with no child, they grew impatient. Sarah proposed having a child with Hagar, their servant, …
Paul speaks of the ministry of reconciliation. But what does he mean by this? Merriam-Webster defines reconcile as “to restore to friendship or harmony.”[1] Paul had just explained that he had found new life in Christ and then explained how this came about. 2 Corinthians 5: 18 But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself …
Paul deals with correction and conflict in 2 Corinthians. Paul planted the church in Corinth on his second missionary trip and stayed there for eighteen months before planting other churches. Later, he received a message from a friend that the church was struggling with some problems. Paul wrote a letter with advice as he attempted …
Have you ever considered reconciliation as spiritual warfare? The devil desperately wants to keep us divided. Division in the church casts a shadow on our message of Jesus as Savior. If we who claim to follow Jesus can’t get along, how will anyone? In Romans 12, Paul urges us to genuinely love each other (v9), …