The Gift Of A Broken Down Car
A few years ago, our family vehicle died. Undriveable. The cost was enormous to fix and well, well beyond it’s worth. This was shortly after I had lost a job and literally days before Christmas.
Into that mess and pain stepped friends – including people I didn’t even know – who pooled together money in order to help our family get into a newer, more reliable vehicle. That was two years ago, and still, every time I sit behind the wheel, I am reminded that all this is a gift. All this is an act of grace, love and kindness.
In 2 Corinthians 5:18, the Apostle Paul says, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation….” Over the next few weeks, I will dive into this entire verse, as it relates to our spiritual growth and calling.
A New Way To See The World
Let’s begin with those five words: “All this is from God…”
What is Paul referring to?
He’s referring to the wonder of God’s reconciling love and grace that through Jesus opens up a new world – a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). In other words, the old way of looking at the world is completely renewed. To use the metaphor of my new family vehicle: How I see driving is transformed by the awareness that “all this” was love and a gift.
For the growing disciple, the world is brand new because of Jesus and the reconciling work of God. In many ways, Paul is revealing his own spiritual growth – his learning to wear the lenses of God’s kingdom – in 2 Corinthians. The “all this” that he is now aware of includes how he sees others (5:16), what he lives for (5:15), what controls him (5:14), his calling and purpose (5:11), what his life aim is (5:9) and how he even sees challenges and opposition (5:6; 4:16-18).
As we grow spiritually, we become increasingly aware that we have been given “all this” from God: a new perspective on what is ultimate reality. This “all this” perspective is only possible because God has loved and graced us with his reconciling work in Jesus Christ.
Slow down and consider how you’re seeing the world? How do you see others? What are you living for? What controls you? What’s your purpose? How do you face challenges and opposition?
It’s All Grace
As a disciple, you are gifted with the power to see the world anew as a new creation. It’s all grace. You’re driving a car you should not have, yet there you are(!) because God has made the impossible possible.
As a disciple, you are gifted with the power to see the world anew as a new creation. It’s all grace.
What does this practically begin to look like for you? What does it look like for the fellowship of disciples that you are traveling with?
What you’re riding in is all from God, so consider what that “all this” really means and drive on with joy!
About
