“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
TEXT — 2 Corinthians 5:10-21
Message
The story was told of a young man who hated his mother with passion and expressed disgust at seeing or identifying with her in the public. He was ashamed that she had only one functioning eye. It was not until she died that he learnt that his mother had one eye because she donated it to him after he lost an eye in an accident when he was young. Of course, there was no time to make amends. He lived with the shame and sorrow all his life.
Like the young man, many do not appreciate Jesus Christ for His sacrificial death to reconcile mankind to God. Contemptible, disdainful, half-hearted, hypocritical, cosmetic and mere lip service responses are unacceptable to the Lord. The only acceptable form of appreciation, which Christ the Benefactor expects in return is that beneficiaries would become new creatures. The new status bestows on the beneficiary the “ministry of reconciliation” and the status of an “ambassador”, a representative of Christ everywhere he or she goes.
Many people today live in total disregard for or wilful ignorance of what Christ did for humanity. Others are ashamed of the gospel way because it does not suit their lifestyle or because conforming to the Christian life would cost them something they are not ready to let go. Many will realise the end result of their decisions too late and face the terrible consequences of their action in eternity.
It is a great privilege that Christ gave His life for humanity, especially for you. Your individual appropriation of His sacrifice to your life and appreciation of this by serving Him faithfully are what will earn you eternal life.
Thought for the day
Living to please Christ is one great way to appreciate His sacrifice.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
Christ died for me to live