In my Bible reading plan I just got to 2 Corinthians 5. Verses 18-20 say:
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
The passage struck me with awe afresh, a testimony to the unsearchable riches we have in Scripture: After millennia of rebellion, opposition, and sin—not only by the world at large but also his chosen people Israel—God’s response is kindness. Patience. Reconciliation. That’s certainly not what I would’ve done. I’ve gone to war over much less. Not our God. Instead of mustering his armies to quell the rebellion, he sends his most honored emissary to proclaim peace. If we will have it. And once we do, we become ambassadors, sharing in the King’s work of reconciling the nations to him, to one day live in eternal peace with him, evermore satisfied to the fullest. All praise to him!
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