Ambassadors of the Reconciling Father

 

I have just finished the book, The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. He brought out another character in the story for us to identify with. Many of us identify with either the younger rebellious son or the older responsible son in the parable. Nouwen, however, brings up the character of the forgiving father and how we need to become like him.

Our Corinthians 5 passage tells us how we have been made new in Christ – reconciled to God through Christ’s work on the cross. The father in the Prodigal Son represents God the Father who welcomes home and not only forgives the younger son but the bitter, angry older son. Whatever son we feel represents us, God forgives and welcomes us home.

As ambassadors for Christ, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. As God forgave us and accepted us back home – no matter what, we are to do the same to others. We are to be like God who hasn’t counted the trespasses against us. God is making his appeal through us as his ambassadors. We are to show God’s love and forgiveness in being like the Father in the parable welcoming others home no matter if they are the good, stay at home son or the prodigal.

During this Lenten time let us consider how Jesus who took on the sins of the world became a prodigal son who paid the price for our sins. As God gave Jesus new life, we have been given new life. In Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Let us become then like the welcoming father in this parable – not holding sins against those in our lives but forgiving them – being ambassadors of reconciliation for Christ.

 

 

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