Hi Brian,


The word for this week is "reconciliation". The Greek word we're looking at here is "katallage", which means: exchange, restoration to divine favor, according to Strong's Concordance. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says: an exchange, a change on the part of one party induced by an action on the part of another. We see this from the Amplified Bible in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19:


18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. 19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).


The King James Version of the Bible says that He has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. As born again believers, we are ALL called to the full time ministry! Not ALL are called to a public ministry, but we are ALL called to a personal ministry of sharing the Good News of the Gospel with those in our own unique sphere of influence. The message we have to share, in a nutshell, is:


God's not holding anything against you! The price that is required for sin (missing it even once!) is eternal separation from God. Jesus gave His life to pay that price for us! The only sin not covered by the Blood of Jesus is the sin of rejecting Him. Is there ANY reason you can't receive Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior right now?


What a GREAT message that is! We're not to recount their sin. We're to tell them about the Sin-bearer! 


Here is a song from Hillsong United called: Tell The World:

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!