Reconciliation Eyes

Part of conversion, a big big part, is seeing people through different eyes.

We do not look at anyone the same way anymore.

We have redemption eyes and reconciliation bias.

Even Jesus looks different to us when we start following Jesus.

We are new people and we see people in new ways.

We cannot divide people into categories like friends and enemies. All are of profound value to God.

The old has past; the new has come. We are ambassadors of that message, emissaries of the King, bearers of a joyful mandate:

Be reconciled to God!

Jesus is example #1 and forerunner in this matter.

Vicariously, he became sin for us without entering into the process of sin. He represented sin and sinners that we might represent righteousness and God.

He stopped counting our sins.

Seventy times seven means, "Who is counting?"

No one.

Paul says it was all for our sake.

When you accept the grace of God, you take on the role of a messenger of peace.

Are you waiting for a good time?

Paul says, "Now is the time."

These are the eyes through which we see all people and all reality, reconciliation!

2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 

So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 

For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you."

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!