WE’RE RECONCILED to GOD through the CROSS
“might RECONCILE them …to God through the cross,“
Yesterday, while editing my Bible study on 1 Corinthians, I reviewed a comment I’d made that we no longer deal with “meat sacrificed to idols” as the Corinthians did. However, after work, I went to a nail salon and noticed a plate of apples in front of two Buddhas. I asked the Vietnamese lady doing my nails if she ate the apples after offering them to Budda. We had an interesting discussion as she explained Buddha couldn’t really eat them. “So, can you?” I asked. “Or, do they just sit on the plate and turn brown?” As we visited, I began wondering, “Would I eat one of those apples if she offered it to me?” I realized that the issue of “meat sacrificed to idols” was still pertinent. Then, I had the opportunity to visit with her about Jesus. “No, I do not sacrifice to Jesus. Jesus made the sacrifice for me by dying on the cross.” As Ephesians 2:16 explains, Jesus did it all. He reconciled us to God through the cross. The Vietnamese lady will continue to offer food to the non living Buddha. We, on the other hand, offer ourselves to the living God to whom we are reconciled. Aren’t you grateful?
Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus Christ who reconciled us to You through the cross. Jesus, we love You and praise You!