Your Identity In Christنموونە

A Slave Trader Who Found New Hope

'I once was lost but now am found.' These are the words John Newton penned for "Amazing Grace."

During the earlier years of his life, Newton spent time in the slave trade. But one day, Newton realized that he was lost, without a savior and without hope.

God was gracious and merciful to him. Despite his deep sin, God saved Newton and gave him a new hope in life. It was a hope not based on how much money or stuff he had, but rather a hope found in Jesus - one that will never fade away.

Like Newton, apart from faith in Christ we have "no hope and [are] without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12).

Apart from Christ, you are farther from God than you feared. In Christ, you are nearer to God than you hoped. Through faith in the truth about who God is and who h\He's made you to be, you're reconciled to God in Christ.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

What did God do for us through Jesus?

What ministry did God give us? How do we fulfill this ministry?

How are you and your family doing with the ministry of reconciliation?

Are you not reconciled with anybody? If you are, pray about what a way to reconciliation would look like and ask the Holy Spirit what He'd have for you in those relationships.

Prayer

Thank God that He has reconciled you to Him. Ask for His help and power in fulfilling the ministry of reconciliation (see Acts 1:8).