Devotional - August 4, 2013

[Steve Galegor]

2 Corinthians 5:16–21 (ESV)

¹⁶ From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

There is a new way to be human that has burst in upon the world in Christ Jesus!  God has done it – the new has come and will ultimately be fully completed!

We have such an amazing message for our Albanian friends that compels us and sets our purpose in life and ministry.  Of course it is for the whole world, but as we focus on our stewardship among Albanians, we remember in particular that it is not an easy task.  Ambassadors represent a message and way of life among a foreign people who have been accustomed to and only embrace the old ways as the path of success.  We all know that is no different among Shqiptarët here in America who often deeply cling to the old as a way of identity and purpose in a strange land.

We too are strangers in exile waiting for the King from the realm where our citizenship now exists – heaven.  The power of sin – turp, frikë, dhe faj (shame, fear and guilt)– has been broken in Him and all has been made new starting in the Risen Christ Himself, and extended to us by the Spirit and to be fully realized one day in our resurrected life when all is reconciled to Him in the new heavens and new earth.  We are to point the world, and our Albanian friends, toward that future which has become available to us now in the Gospel and our inclusion in the household of God.  Rejoice and worship Him in it today and serve Him and His world out of that which has been accomplished in Christ – new creation!

Let's pray that hope sustains and wells up further in our time of encouragement together next week.  Javë të mbarë në Krisht!