An Amazing Reversal

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

I’ve preached this passage before. It’s only recently that I realized I’d been missing something. George Guthrie explains:

Paul’s role as ambassador stands as strikingly different from ambassadors in the political realm of his day. The normal pattern of diplomacy involved the lesser political powers sending their ambassadors to the greater political powers before whom they would plead their cases. For instance, Roman emperors often received ambassadors from subject lands. Yet in the gospel we see an amazing reversal. The all-powerful God sends his ambassadors, seeking reconciliation with those whom he has created but who lack a relationship with him. (2 Corinthians)

It’s another example of God humbling himself in his pursuit of his people. And it humbles me.

This is an amazing reversal. We are pursued by God. He humbles himself to come after us, when we should be running to him. He’s still humbling himself today, still sending out ambassadors.

I hope it astounds you as much as it astounds me.