starting at verse 11: Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
i've been thinking on this passage today probably bcuz i just really want Jesus to come back and the first part of the chapter talks a lot about heaven. however the second portion which i have above really has encouraged me today and adjusted my mindset.
i love the phrase "Christ's love compels us" and according to merriam webster compel means to to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly. Christ's love is meant to be the driving force of our lives...to directs every thought, motive, action, every aspect. sometimes i feel this way, but much more do i not. i think i fail to remind myself daily of Christ's sacrifice and what depth of despair i would be in without him. i pray that i would be constantly reminded of the fury and wrath of a holy God so that i might be motivated out of desparate love and concern for those around me. What a great responsibility God has given to us...that we might be his ambassadors of reconciliation. Our main aim should be the restoration of man's relationship with God. This is our one plea.
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