We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20, NIV)
During the summer of 2000, I had the opportunity to caddie for my father, Larry Nelson, in three Champions Tour events. He was playing extremely well that year and of those three tournaments, his worst finish was third place. While that in itself is impressive, what I remember most about those three tournaments is that I saw him use eight different putters! He has always found it helpful for his psyche to try a different putter if he has any negative thoughts about the one in his bag.
Though this is an extreme example, it’s not uncommon for us as golfers to move on from clubs or balls (or even shoes, tees or lucky ball markers!) that we feel are letting us down or betraying our trust and confidence.
I’m pretty sure the way we treat these ill-performing objects is of low importance to God. However, how we treat others that have wronged us or that we are in conflict with is of great significance to God. I’ve recently been enlightened to a point made by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5 that sheds light on why we as followers of Christ must be committed to not hold anger or contempt for those who trouble us. Paul reminds us that we cannot claim the grace of God and the gift of reconciliation that he offers us through Jesus Christ and not live it out ourselves toward others. Look:
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
Paul makes a tremendously impactful point as to why we cannot put friends, family, neighbors, or associates in the “you’re dead to me” category. He points out that this is the category where we rightfully belonged with God because of our sin. Yet God reconciled us to himself through Christ. Therefore, we must have a ministry of reconciliation to those around us in order for others see Christ through us.
It’s sad, but many of us have put certain people (or people groups) in our lives into a place that Christ’s love can never be revealed through us. Often our hurt, bitterness, and anger wills them not to be reconciled with us. We don’t have that right! God’s Word says we are to be his ambassadors, so regardless of who created the conflict, we must represent the same message of grace and redemption in our relationships here on earth as God has offered us for eternity.
You don’t have to necessarily reconcile with your putter that missed that three-footer on eighteen, but if it helps you get in the habit of extending God’s grace and ministry of reconciliation, then I’d encourage it!
—
Josh Nelson
October 10, 2012
Copyright 2012 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.