Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV
Have you ever had a bad experience in a place of business like a restaurant where your server just wasn’t up to par on her customer service skills? Perhaps she was having a bad day or a rough life, either way you bore the brunt of her discontentment. One sarcastic stare too many and her lack of urgency to bring you the condiment you requested twice before warrants your demand to speak to the manager. Even at the threat of being reported for her poor customer service, the waitress maintains a “whatever” attitude and moseys off to get her boss. By now, you are a boiling inferno hotter than the sizzling fajitas being delivered to the man seated at the table beside you. Your rage has overridden your hungry pangs and all you can chew on are the not so kind words about your waitress that are swirling around in your mouth.
As you see the manager nearing, your mind starts racing with ideas on how you should voice your complaint. He comes to your table, smiles a bit, and then extends his hand as he introduces himself. Before he could finish his question, “How was everything tonight?” you explode and tell him everything holding nothing back. You even make the suggestion that perhaps the waitress should find another line of work where she didn’t have to deal with the public. The manager patiently listens to your grievance and then offers his apologies on behalf of the waitress and himself. He even takes matters one step further by giving you your meal “on the house” to compensate you for the inconvenience. Minutes later a different waitress comes to you to see if you need anything else. You thank her for the offer and before she tries to present you with the bill, you proudly announce that your meal is “complimentary”. She smiles and bids you a good evening.
As you get closer to the exit, you just happen to glance over and see a girl laboring to clean the area left in total disarray by a large group who apparently had a dinner party at the restaurant. Before you leave out of the restaurant, the young lady turns sideways and you get a better look at her; she was your waitress. You assume that her having to clean up was the punishment given for the unacceptable service she provided. You smile. You feel good knowing that justice was served.
That night, the waitress climbs in her bed tired and worn from the emptiness in her life, while both the customer and the manager bow their knees to pray to God. Based on the above scenario, how do you suppose they prayed?
When we make our prayer and supplication to God, do we approach His throne with the anger of the customer or the compassion of the manager? According to 2 Corinthians 5:18, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation through Christ Jesus. To reconcile means “to reestablish a close relationship between.”[i] When we pray for others and for our nation, we take the responsibility of repenting for the sins that “we” have committed against God and in doing so, we reestablish a close relationship between God and mankind.
For further reading, see Deuteronomy 9:14-29; Daniel 9; and Acts 7:54-60.
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteTo err is human but to pray for others is divine (a supernatural encounter with an awesome God). Taking on His nature in the face of life challenges, inconveniences and the like is one thing, but to yield to pray for another that they might be healed, delivered and reconciled to God is a gift we often neglect. Thanks for sharing.