Daily Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:19

…that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

God created the world…oceans, land, animals, and people. He created it perfectly for He is perfect and nothing was flawed. Then those perfectly created people chose sin…chose their way over His way. And man has been doing this ever since that first mistake. Daily we choose our way over His way…our words over His words, our thoughts over His thoughts, our actions over His actions. Why? Because it’s easier, it’s more convenient…because we don’t want to offend another, we don’t want someone to be displeased with us…because we want to get crazy rich…because we are tired or stressed…because we want to keep a certain group of friends or relationship. And God looks at his creation…He sees the mess, the mistakes, the disrespect…He sees man putting things, material things before Him. He sees his creation that he once created perfectly turned into disastrous law breakers. And when a law is broken, a penalty must be paid. It wouldn’t be justice if a price was not paid…if the offender was not held accountable for the crimes committed. So wipe the earth clean and start over, right? Condemn all sinners to hell and start anew with a fresh crop, right? But God’s love for us “criminals” was too great to take that path. Instead He sent His Son…Jesus Christ…to earth as THE Savior…God in the flesh. But this Savior wasn’t there to sit as a King atop his throne…rather he was there as the payment…the reconciliation for sins committed by OTHERS…by you and me. Where would we be if God was not so loving…if He instead said “live right or go to hell when your life is over”. What then? Christ didn’t sacrifice half-way…he didn’t provide partial payment…instead he was all-in, fully committed, sold-out. May we be the same in our commitment to Him…fully committed, all-in, sold-out…giving our lives to His will completely every day. For as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:15, “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” To God be the glory!