As Sue and I read the following passage together the other day, I was deeply challenged. I asked myself the question: "When did I last work hard to persuade others of their need to be reconciled to God outside a church, or other mainly Christian setting?"

"Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others … we have died to our old life. Jesus died … so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them … Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him … We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!' He made Christ, who never sinned, to be sin itself for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:11-21).

This last verse is a favourite with many, but the whole passage carries with it a responsibility. Salvation is a gift we can never earn or deserve. We serve out of gratitude and obedience in order to please our Saviour and to glorify the Father. He is not wanting us to do this out of guilty, but rather his desire is to build-up our confidence, to give us a fresh experience of his amazing grace and to encourage us to join others in proclaiming his greatness. Being a fisher-of-people can be a rod-and-line occupation or a team effort like trawler fishing. Another analogy is that of a lifeboat. The need in both is for many hands on deck. Are we willing to join the crew, as well as stepping out in faith when the Lord provides the opportunity for us as individuals to speak up for him and declare our faith? It is good to make this part of our morning prayers.