Your Move
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV
“It’s your move.”
One of the things I love about the Christmas holidays is the chance to play board games. With the cold weather it is nice to sit around with a cup of coffee or tea playing games with friends and family. Yet whatever game we are playing someone inevitably needs prompting that it is their turn to play.
In many ways, the Christmas story is that God has set up the board, made the first move and now gives us the chance to participate with him. The Scripture above tells us that before we even understood our need for reconciliation God had reconciled us to himself through Christ. Our sins have been washed away by the blood of Christ before we even understood we had sinned.
1 John 4:19 tell us that we love because God first loved us. 1 Peter 1:16 encourages us to be holy because God is holy. Ephesians 4:32 tell us to forgive because we have been forgiven. God always makes the first move, and then he invites us to make the next move with him.
We see this pattern again in the verse above, having been reconciled to God in Christ, we have now been given the ministry of reconciliation. This means that whatever is going on in our life, God is with us and it is our turn to make a move in the Spirit, it is our time to seek reconciliation.
So, let’s not hang around waiting for someone else to go first. “It’s our move.”
Prayer
Everlasting Father, we thank you for always making the first move, for inviting us to participate in your ministry of reconciliation. Help us to be your ambassadors, and to seek reconciliation at the first opportunity, always making the next move towards peace and restored relationships. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Study by Gavin Henderson
About the writer:
Gavin Henderson is the National Ministry Leader for GCI UK and Ireland
Local congregation:
GCI Northampton Ecton
Village Hall
78A High Street
Ecton
NORTHAMPTON
NN6 0QB
Meeting time: Saturday 11am
Local congregational contact: Email: northampton@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact: wordoflife@gracecom.church