IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Christ’s Ambassadors

Date: Oct. 24, 2026

Passage

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

How do we regard one another? People look at the accomplishments and social rank of others. Christ, however, changes our perspective because he died for all (15) and people are a new creation in Christ (16,17). When Paul thought about God who did not spare his son but sent him to the cross, he trembled and realized how much God loves the world. This love of God compelled him to take radical risks for God (13).

God is reconciling the world to himself in Christ and calls his people to the ministry of reconciliation as his ambassadors. In Paul’s time, an ambassador was not just a messenger but an official representative of the emperor. He carried the emperor’s authority and message to kings and cities. In the same way, God has sent us to the world as Christ’s ambassadors to reconcile the world to him in Christ.

Prayer: Father, thank you for reconciling sinners to yourself through your son’s suffering and resurrection. Let me share this message of reconciliation with others today.

One Word: God is making his appeal through us

Daily Bread

The Lord Judges the Proud

Psalm 75:1-10

Key Verse: 75:2

“At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with equity.

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