“Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”
As a minister of reconciliation, I’m called to this very verse. The word “let” strikes me; it doesn’t say “make” or “force” but it says to “let” meaning to permit or allow the ungodly person to repent without being an extra stumbling block to them. I need to be open, not only practically, but mentally for a wicked person to repent and be reconciled to God, for that’s my calling.
Another responsibility as a minister of reconciliation is tearing down obstacles that prevent sinners from being reconciled to God. False assumptions of Christianity are a large part about why unbelievers won’t turn to God, such as what the church should be and how Christian life should be lived. How often does my conduct or attitude feed the unbelievers false assumptions that drive them farther from God? My pride and selfishness can spring up to create a taller stumbling block for the sinner, and it ends up damaging my ministry. I’m going to need to pray for God to show me those unneeded stumbling blocks within myself or the world that keeps people from repenting to God. I will ask for the wisdom and willingness to clear the rubble along the road for the sinner to walk into the forgiving arms of Jesus Christ.
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