2 Corinthians 5:16-21

2 Corinthians 5:16-21
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Hurricane Irma yielded some interesting photos of the freeways in Florida -- everyone is streaming north while the southbound lanes are barren.  No one wants to head into the storm.
  In Christ, God enters into the storm of human sin.  He doesn't have to, but he chooses to, because he knows that entering into sin is the only way to save us, and he loves us too much to allow us to continue down that path.  For our sake he became sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God.  It's an amazing trade -- he takes the pain and brokenness and agony of sin, while we receive the glorification that rightfully belongs to Christ.  It's completely unfair in our favor.
  Paul makes this case in Corinthians, urging the Corinthians to live as ambassadors -- to go out into the world and carry the message of hope and peace of the Kingdom of God to the corners of the world.  We are charged to go out in love, carrying within us the joy of a people set free by the love of God.  He entered into our storm and gave us hope.